Momentum welcomes the European Parliament call for social media ban under 16

Momentum welcomes the strong message from the European Parliament, which has called for EU-wide rules restricting access to social media platforms for children under 16, unless parents explicitly authorise otherwise.

This position reflects Momentum’s own proposal published earlier this month that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat should not be accessible to users under 16 due to their well-documented risks to wellbeing, mental health, and online safety.

Momentum is in line with the European approach rather than the Maltese Government’s position, which proposes to limit restrictions only to children under 13. At a time when studies continue to show increasing levels of online addiction, harassment, and harmful design features targeted at young people, Momentum believes Malta should align with higher European standards rather than lag behind them.

Katya Compagno from Momentum said, “We are pleased to see the European Parliament echoing what Momentum has been advocating. Protecting children online requires more than voluntary guidelines; it requires responsible policy. If Europe is moving towards 16 as the minimum age, then Malta should not settle for the bare minimum of 13.”

Momentum also emphasises that digital wellbeing must become a core part of Malta’s education system. Social media literacy, understanding algorithms, online pressures, risks of manipulation, and responsible use should be embedded in the national curriculum to better prepare young people for both the opportunities and dangers of the digital world.

Compagno added, “Banning access without education is not enough. We need to equip our students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills to navigate social media safely when they reach the appropriate age,”.

Momentum will continue working to ensure that Malta adopts forward-looking policies that protect children, support parents, and keep the country aligned with the best emerging European practices.

Momentum jilqa’ s-sejħa tal-Parlament Ewropew għal projbizzjoni tal-midja soċjali għal min hu taħt is-16-il sena

Momentum jilqa’ l-messaġġ qawwi mill-Parlament Ewropew, li appella għal regoli madwar l-UE li jirrestrinġu l-aċċess għall-pjattaformi tal-midja soċjali għal tfal ta’ taħt is-16-il sena, sakemm il-ġenituri ma jawtorizzawx espliċitament mod ieħor.

Din il-pożizzjoni tirrifletti l-proposta ta’ Momentum stess ippubblikata aktar kmieni dan ix-xahar li pjattaformi bħal Facebook, Instagram, TikTok u Snapchat m’għandhomx ikunu aċċessibbli għal tfal taħt is-16-il sena minħabba r-riskji dokumentati dwar il-benesseri, is-saħħa mentali u s-sigurtà online.

Momentum huwa konformi mal-politika Ewropea u mhux mal-pożizzjoni tal-Gvern Malti, li jipproponi li jillimita r-restrizzjonijiet biss għal tfal taħt it-13-il sena. Fi żmien meta studji jkomplu juru livelli dejjem jiżdiedu ta’ vizzju online, fastidju u stil ta’ ħajja mmirat lejn iż-żgħażagħ, Momentum jemmen li Malta għandha tallinja ruħha ma’ standards Ewropej ogħla aktar milli tibqa’ lura minnhom.

Katya Compagno minn Momentum qalet, “Ninsabu kuntenti li naraw il-Parlament Ewropew jirrepeti dak li Momentum ilu jippromwovi. Il-protezzjoni tat-tfal online teħtieġ aktar minn linji gwida volontarji; teħtieġ politika responsabbli. Jekk l-Ewropa qed timxi lejn is-16-il sena bħala l-età minima, allura Malta m’għandhiex tikkuntenta bil-minimu ta’ 13-il sena.”

Momentum jenfasizza wkoll li l-benesseri diġitali jrid isir parti ċentrali mis-sistema edukattiva ta’ Malta. Il-litteriżmu tal-midja soċjali, il-fehim tal-algoritmi, il-pressjonijiet online, ir-riskji ta’ manipulazzjoni u l-użu responsabbli għandhom ikunu integrati fil-kurrikulu nazzjonali biex iż-żgħażagħ jiġu ppreparati aħjar kemm għall-opportunitajiet kif ukoll għall-perikli tad-dinja diġitali.

Compagno żiedet tgħid, “Il-projbizzjoni tal-aċċess mingħajr edukazzjoni mhix biżżejjed. Irridu ngħallmu lill-istudenti tagħna bl-għarfien u l-ħiliet ta’ ħsieb kritiku biex jinnavigaw il-midja soċjali b’mod sikur meta jilħqu l-età xierqa.”

Momentum se jkompli jaħdem biex jiżgura li Malta tadotta politiki li jħarsu ’l quddiem, li jipproteġu lit-tfal, jappoġġjaw lill-ġenituri u jżommu l-pajjiż allinjat mal-aħjar prattiki Ewropej emerġenti.

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