The European Parliament has overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution calling for a ban on social media access for children under the age of 16 without explicit parental consent. The vote, held on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, in Brussels, saw 483 MEPs in favour and 92 against, signalling a strong political appetite for stricter regulation of online platforms to protect minors. While not legally enforceable, the resolution intensifies pressure on the European Commission to propose legislation, mirroring a growing global movement that has significant implications for how young people, including those in Kenya, interact with the digital world.

The resolution, drafted by Danish Social Democrat MEP Christel Schaldemose, argues that society must act decisively to counter the mental and physical health risks posed by the internet's "addictive design." It cites research indicating that one in four young people exhibits "problematic" or "dysfunctional" smartphone use, akin to addiction. The parliament is urging a ban on features like infinite scrolling and engagement-based recommendation algorithms for minors, which are designed to maximize user time on platforms. "We are in the middle of an experiment where American and Chinese tech giants have unlimited access to the attention of our children," Schaldemose stated, declaring that "the experiment ends here."

A Growing Global Consensus

The EU's move is not happening in isolation. It follows several international precedents aimed at curbing the influence of social media on children. Australia is set to implement a world-first ban on social media for under-16s, effective from 10 December 2025. Under this law, the responsibility for enforcement lies with tech companies, which face fines of up to AUD $49.5 million for non-compliance, not with children or their parents. The Australian government has cited studies showing a high percentage of children encounter dangerous material online as a key driver for the policy.

Similarly, in France, a government-commissioned expert report released in April 2024 recommended even stricter measures: no smartphones before age 13 and no access to mainstream social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram until age 18. The report accused the tech industry of deploying a "strategy of capturing children's attention" to monetize them. Other European nations, including Norway and Spain, are also considering raising their digital age of consent.

Implications for Kenya

This global push towards stricter age gating on social media platforms raises important questions for Kenya. The country has a large and digitally active youth population, with studies indicating that over 70% of teenagers spend more than three hours a day on social platforms. Concerns about the impact on their mental health are well-documented, with research linking high social media use among Kenyan youth to increased anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying.

Kenyan authorities have already taken steps to address these risks. In April 2025, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) issued the 'Industry Guidelines for Child Online Protection and Safety'. These binding guidelines mandate that all ICT service providers, including social media companies, implement measures such as age-verification mechanisms, high-privacy settings by default for children, and clear procedures for handling complaints. The guidelines are built on the principle that child protection is a shared responsibility across the entire digital ecosystem. Furthermore, Kenya's State Department for Children Services is implementing a National Plan of Action (2022–2026) to tackle online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

However, the European proposal for an outright ban for younger teens represents a significant escalation from Kenya's current regulatory framework, which focuses more on creating a safer environment rather than restricting access. The debate in Kenya, as elsewhere, must balance the clear need for protection against children's rights to access information and express themselves online.

The Path Forward: Enforcement and Education

A major challenge for any age-based restriction is enforcement. Tech platforms currently rely on self-declared ages, which are easily falsified. Effective enforcement would require robust age-assurance technologies, such as verification through government ID or facial age estimation, which raise significant data privacy concerns. Critics of outright bans also argue that they could push children towards less-regulated corners of the internet and discourage them from seeking help when they encounter problems online. They advocate for a stronger focus on digital literacy education for both children and parents.

As the European Commission, under President Ursula von der Leyen, considers these recommendations, Kenyan policymakers, parents, and educators will be watching closely. The global conversation is shifting from whether to regulate to how to regulate. The outcome will shape the digital landscape for the next generation of Kenyans, weighing the undeniable benefits of online connectivity against the profound risks to their well-being.