Save the Children Romania is urging lawmakers to introduce stricter rules on minors’ access to social media, including a full ban for children under 13, conditional access for ages 13–15, and penalties for platforms that fail to verify users’ ages. The organization argues that weak regulation and inadequate age-check systems leave children exposed online.
Proposed measures include mandatory digital literacy and online safety in school curricula, alongside parental control tools and electronic identity verification. According to the NGO, these steps are essential to protect children’s rights in digital environments.
Evidence and key risks
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A December 2025 study shows near-universal social media use among children, including those aged 12–14, with over one-third holding public profiles. A 2024 study by the World Health Organization found that more than 22% of Romanian children aged 11–15 display psychological withdrawal symptoms when mobile access is restricted.
The organization also highlights mental health concerns. Recent meta-analyses link problematic social media use to anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and concentration difficulties. Some longitudinal studies suggest a higher risk of suicidal ideation in cases of addictive use, although causality is not always established.
On online safety, the Ora de Net reporting line logged over 53,000 reports in 2025 involving child sexual abuse material. European data indicate that a large share is self-generated by minors, often following manipulation or lack of awareness.
Save the Children Romania recommends extending regulation to online video games, where chat features and reward systems can create similar risks and contribute to digital addiction. The NGO also calls for stronger state oversight, including platform certification and sanctions for non-compliance.
Comparable approaches are under discussion or implementation in countries such as Australia, France, and Denmark, focusing on age limits and robust technical verification.
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