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Europe Weighs Teen Social Media Limits as UK Launches Parent-Focused Safety Campaign

New polling shows many parents are not discussing harmful content, prompting a consultation on children's digital wellbeing.

Overview

  • Britain unveiled the 'You Won't Know Until You Ask' initiative with guidance on safety settings and conversations about misinformation, misogyny and rage bait, piloting TV and social ads in Yorkshire and the Midlands from February 16.
  • Ministers will open a three‑month consultation in the coming weeks on children's digital wellbeing and plan to study Australia's under‑16 ban during a visit there.
  • Government‑commissioned research shows half of parents have never discussed harmful content with their children and around a quarter do not know what their child is viewing, despite most 11‑year‑olds owning smartphones.
  • Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis backed a ban for under‑15s, and Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlicek said the cabinet is seriously considering legislation that could be proposed this year.
  • Spain, Greece and France have advanced or signalled restrictions on minors' social media use, while groups including the NSPCC, Parent Zone, Internet Matters and the Molly Rose Foundation oppose blanket bans and call for stronger platform accountability.