European Parliament
European Parliament
10/15/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Danger to the physical and mental safety of European adolescents and young people on social networks
Danger to the physical and mental safety of European adolescents and young people on social networks
15.10.2024
Priority question for written answer P-002083/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Laura Ballarín Cereza (S&D)
National Public Radio (NPR)[1] in the US disclosed internal TikTok documents, indicating that the platform was aware of the risks that its design and algorithm posed to adolescents and young people, especially in terms of the addiction they could generate and their contribution to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. They also show that its management was aware that minors used the platform to make live transmissions, such as in the cases of 15-year-old girls stripping live on the platform in exchange for 'gifts'[2].
In light of the above:
- 1.Does the Commission consider that social networks pose an imminent danger to the physical and mental safety of European children and young people?
- 2.Does the Commission intend to hold social network owners who were aware of what was happening accountable?
- 3.Is the Commission planning immediate action to ensure that social networks reduce the risks posed by their designs, algorithms and lack of security, as set out in the Digital Services Act?
Submitted: 15.10.2024