Are social media bans the right solution for protecting children online? Prof. Sole Pera, Associate Professor at UDelft and researcher in information retrieval and recommender systems, explores why the debate should focus on the specific challenges children face online rather than on banning access altogether.

She discusses how children are already digital citizens, using online spaces to learn, connect, and develop their identities. Sole highlights the responsibility of search and recommender systems in shaping children's online experiences, the impact of engagement-driven design choices, and the importance of creating digital environments that are safe, age-appropriate, and responsive to the needs of children, families, educators, and policymakers.

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Are age-based social media restrictions the right solution for protecting children online? Francesca Pisanu, Senior Policy Officer at Eurochild, explores why the debate should focus on strengthening children's rights online rather than relying on an age of digital majority.

She discusses the importance of enforcing and strengthening existing EU legislation, including the Digital Services Act, GDPR, and the AI Act, while advocating for safety by design as the default approach to online protection. Francesca also highlights the risks that age-based restrictions may leave some children without adequate safeguards and reflects on governments' responsibility to provide children with safe opportunities to participate, express themselves, and seek support online.

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Are blanket social media bans the right solution for protecting children online? Jeffrey DeMarco, Chartered Forensic Psychologist and Senior Technical Advisor at, explores why bans may be too blunt, easy to circumvent, and risk shifting harms rather than reducing them.

He discusses the need for stronger safety-by-design regulation, better platform accountability, digital literacy, and meaningful child participation in shaping safer digital spaces.

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Bart Preneel, professor of applied cryptography & privacy at KU Leuven, explains why age verification and age assurance measures aimed at restricting children’s access to online services may seem appealing but are ultimately fragile, easily bypassed, and risky for privacy and security. He argues that instead of relying on sweeping technical controls, policymakers should focus on stronger regulation of platforms, reducing harmful business models, and better supporting families and education.

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Are social media bans an effective way to keep children safe online? Sonia Livingstone from the Digital Futures for Children Centre unpacks the evidence behind growing calls for bans. She explains why restricting access is unlikely to work, highlights the benefits children find online, and argues that stronger regulation—not exclusion—is key to creating safer digital spaces.

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Is banning social media really the solution for protecting children online? Leanda Barrington-Leach, Executive Director at 5Rights, explains why blanket bans fall short and argues for a more balanced approach that combines protection, age appropriate design, and gradual empowerment in a digital world.

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