Bulgaria considers banning social media for under-15s; experts suggest education is better than bans.
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Bulgaria’s Minister of Education announced discussions about potentially banning children under 15 from using social media, a proposal supported by concerns over its harmful effects on youth. An internet safety expert suggests that a strict ban is likely symbolic and technically difficult to enforce because users can easily create new profiles with false information. Instead of outright bans, the expert advocates for investing in educating children, parents, and teachers to build digital literacy and emotional intelligence, enabling responsible online behavior. While some European countries are considering age restrictions—such as Denmark planning a ban for those under 15 and France requiring parental consent for users under 15—the expert argues that more effective measures include regulations focused on content monitoring and preventing child exploitation, which place responsibility on platforms to verify user ages effectively. Ultimately, the expert emphasizes that strong parent-child relationships built on open dialogue are the most crucial form of protection, alongside proper privacy settings and parental oversight.
