Alex Agius Saliba calls for EU action on addictive social media design and minimum age rules

Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba has called for stronger European action to protect children’s mental health from the risks associated with social media, including measures to tackle addictive platform design and introduce a minimum age requirement for social media use.

Agius Saliba said the appeal was made during a plenary debate held earlier on Wednesday at the European Parliament focusing on safeguarding children’s mental wellbeing in the digital environment, a Labour Party statement said.

Agius Saliba, who serves as Vice-President of the Socialists and Democrats Group for digital affairs and co-chair of the Parliament’s mental health intergroup, played a leading role in the discussion.

Addressing the chamber, he urged the European Commission to act swiftly against what he described as addictive features embedded in social media platforms and to introduce immediate protections aimed at shielding minors from harmful effects on their development.

“The most precious thing for any parent is their children,” Agius Saliba said during the debate.

“Parents want to see them thrive, but many are left frustrated seeing social media dependency interfere with their development. Political action at European level is needed. We must fight for a healthier alternative to today’s toxic platforms and protect the youngest members of our society,” he said.

The intervention comes amid growing concerns about the impact of excessive screen time and prolonged use of mobile devices and computers on children’s mental health.

Parents and organisations working in the sector have also raised concerns over cases in which social media dependency has been linked to serious incidents involving self-harm and suicide among children.

Agius Saliba said the issue should not be viewed as isolated cases but as a wider challenge affecting children across the European Union.

He pointed to existing EU legislation, including the Digital Services Act, for which he served as rapporteur, but argued that stronger and faster enforcement is needed for the rules to have a meaningful impact.

Agius Saliba also called for additional legislation targeting practices designed to encourage compulsive use of online platforms.

“We expect the Commission to do more to enforce existing rules to make social media safer, but we also need new rules on activities that deliberately cause harm,” he said.

“These include infinite scrolling and dark patterns, which are designed to create dependency. We expect an ambitious proposal under the Digital Fairness Act to prohibit these practices and put an end to toxic business models,” Agius Saliba added.

He added that such measures would not only protect minors but also benefit adults who are also affected by these digital engagement models.

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