Laura Ballarín Cereza

29. Calls for a clear earmarked budget for human rights and democracy in the future MFF; stresses that the EU budget needs to be protected also for external use and that the budget constitutes an...

4 a. Stresses the vital role of the EU in strengthening democracy worldwide, particularly in these challenging times, through its electoral observation missions;

G e. whereas generative AI presents opportunities for young people such as personalised learning and tools to support their creativity, but also poses serious risks to young people such as the...

– having regard to its resolution of 18 January 2023 on consumer protection in online video games: a European single market approach,

D. whereas social media platform features are designed to maximise engagement, such as infinite scrolling and compulsive engagement with notifications, and to foster addictive use,...

G c. whereas the protection of consumers is essential for the functioning of the EU’s internal market, as it ensures trust and fairness in commercial practices, thereby enabling sustainable...

D b. whereas there is no single comprehensive EU regulation on dark patterns; whereas the prohibition of dark patterns under the Digital Services Act (DSA) is limited to online platforms;...

C. whereas social media exposes young users to a wide range of harmful content, including cyberbullying, sexualised material, disinformation, body image pressures, the promotion of self- harm,...

J e. whereas Article 34 of the DSA states that very large online platforms (VLOPs) and very large online search engines (VLOSES) must identify and assess the systemic risks to children’s...

J d. whereas Article 28(1) of the DSA states that online platforms that are accessible to minors must ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for children;

J g. whereas the lack of a robust, cross-border comparable evidence base on mental health and digital environments poses a challenge for researchers and policymakers; whereas the establishment...

B b. whereas in OECD countries, on average, 95 % of 15-year-olds browse the internet for fun, and 96 % report browsing social networks; whereas most 15-year-olds also use digital devices for...

F b. whereas research proves that the ability to construct hyperrealistic bodies in the virtual world through avatars and filters has been associated with dissatisfaction with, and the...

G b. whereas over 9 in 10 Europeans consider that public authorities must take urgent action to protect children online, in particular concerning the negative impact of social media on their...

– having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the Charter), in particular Article 24 thereof, which recognises children’s rights to protection, to have their best...

11. Urges online platforms to take accountability in protecting minors from harmful or manipulative content, by complying with the highest levels of safety, privacy and security, as...

F. whereas social media influencers significantly shape young people’s behaviours, consumption habits and opinions (such as promoting unhealthy food for children); whereas...

– having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989, which elaborates on how the Convention applies in the digital environment and explicitly recognises that...

– having regard to its resolution of 10 November 2022 on esports and video games,

6 d. Underlines that the DSA obliges online platforms accessible to minors to implement appropriate and proportionate measures to guarantee a high level of privacy, safety and security for...

7 c. Welcomes the Commission’s ‘digital fairness’ fitness check of consumer law; underlines that some issues remain unaddressed concerning the protection of consumers online, with minors...

6 f. Stresses the need for the prompt implementation and strict enforcement of the DSA as a whole to ensure a safe online environment for minors; welcomes, in particular, the Commission’s...

G f. whereas the guidelines on the protection of minors adopted under Article 28(1) of the DSA recognises that the increasing integration of AI chatbots and companions into online platforms as...

– having regard to the Council of Europe’s guidelines to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment, published in 2018,

B. whereas social media use among European minors aged 9-16 has more than doubled since 2010, now averaging 3 hours per day, with over 80 % using social media platforms daily, making...

B a. whereas in 2024, the share of young people using the internet daily in the EU was 97 % on average; whereas in 2024, 87 % of 16- to 29-year-olds in the EU used social networks, compared to...

E. whereas excessive social media use is associated with elevated risks of mental and physical health issues in minors, such as depression and anxiety;

F a. whereas research shows that anonymity can make it easier for people to engage in aggressive behaviours; whereas these behaviours can lead to conflict, emotional distress and anger among...

G a. whereas unfair commercial practices cost consumers EUR 7.9 billion annually, with younger age groups experiencing the highest levels of detriment; whereas the use of unfair techniques to...

I. whereas the current EU legal framework, including the General Data Protection Regulation, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), the DSA and the Artificial Intelligence Act, provides...