After the Australian government has decided to include YouTube in the prohibition of social networks for minors under 16 years old, does Romania face the question: is it necessary a similar measure or an approach adapted to local realities?
Nicoleta Pauliuc, a parliamentarian, has submitted an initiative for digital security. Photo source: pixabay
According to BBC News, the ban announced by Australia will enter into force in December 2025 and will cover Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat and YouTube. Adolescents will be able to watch video content, but they will not be allowed to have an account, which means they will not be able to interact with YouTube users on the platform. Tech companies that do not comply with the new rules risk fines of up to $ 50 million (ie about 32.5 million).
The decision comes against the background of concerns related to the harmful content accessed by minors. The Australian commissioner for online safety described YouTube as the “most commonly mentioned” platform by children between 10 and 15 years old as an exposure to inadequate materials.
Total prohibition does not guarantee protection
“The absolute prohibition for all minors under 16 (as announced by Australia) risks limiting access to important educational and social resources, without guarantee the real protection of children. Romania could rather implement a pilot project that will test multiple models for the use of socializing platforms by minors, instead of an absolute prohibition for all years” He told the truth Gabriela Alexandrescu, executive president of Save the Children.
It draws attention to the fact that such an approach would allow to evaluate the impact of different measures (parental control, time limit, educational guidance) under real conditions and adapt according to results. “In the context in which almost 50 % of students spend over six hours a day online and begin to use Tiktok or YouTube from 5–7 years old, a pilot program would provide solid data to define balanced legislation, to protect children without completely restricting access to educational and social resources available online,” explained the president Save the Children.
In his opinion, not the platforms themselves are a danger, but the unpaid way in which they are used often transforms them into risk for minors. “In 2025, 48.3 % of children spend over six hours a day online, mostly on social networks. Between 66 % and 84 % have posted content in the last 12 months, and the highest risk of personal data comes through private messenger (86 % girls vs. 72 % boys). Two out of five children reported that they received offending messages or over 50 % of adolescents, Anxiety related to online experiences.added Gabriela Alexandrescu.
Offensive messages and cyberbullying, increasing alarming
In fact, she also signs that the little ones are in a more and more complex digital environment, and the recent data highlights the direct impact of this context on them: the age at which social networks are now descended between 5 and 10 years (compared to 8.2 years in 2021 and 9 years in 2019), and almost half of them (48.3 %) socialization. “Almost two out of five children reported that they were offended or received annoying messages in the online environment, an alarm signal compared to previous years, and one in three of the children who resorted to the counseling services of the children between 2020–2021 was confronted with anxiety, the percentage increasing to over 50 %, in the case of adolescents,” shows the representative Save the Children.
In 2023, between 66 % and 84 % of children created and distributed online content: from games in games (69 %) and private messenger (81 %) to groups/forums (84 %), and the risk of exposure of personal data is the highest through private messaging (86 % of girls vs. 72 % of boys). “Parents share this concern: 75 % are afraid of the inappropriate content, 70 % of contact with unknown persons and 59 % of the possibility that the little ones become victims of cyber offenses. All these figures emphasize the pressing need for integrated digital education, regulation and psycho -emotional support, for children,” says Gabriela Alexandrescu.
From the ocean opened to digital “sharks”
“Social networks are hurting our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we are on their side”, He told the BBC, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, adding that the measure is not a complete solution, but it will “make a difference”.
In a recent statement, YouTube argued that the platform should not be considered social network, claiming to bring “Value and benefits of Australian young people”. However, the Australian commissioner for online safety, Julie Insman Grant recommended the inclusion of the platform in prohibition, declaring that it is “the most common mentioned” by children between 10 and 15 years as a source of harmful content.
The Minister of Communications, Anika Wells, compared the challenges of protecting children in the digital environment with “Learning swimming in the open ocean, with currents and sharks”adding: “We cannot control the ocean, but we can supervise sharks.”
The BBC also notes that other countries, such as Norway, follow the example of Australia, while the UK analyzes a possible similar measure. For now, in Australia, gaming, education and health applications will be exempted, being considered less socially harmful.
Romania goes on a different way: “digital maturity” with parental agreement
Locally, Nicoleta Pauliuc (PNL), the chairman of the Senate Defense Commission, submitted the draft law on establishing the age of digital maturity last month. The initiative came in the context of a worrying risks in the online environment for children and teenagers: exposure to violent or pornographic content, viral challenges, eyebrow dependence, bullying and even fraud.
The project provides, among other things: the creation of accounts only with the agreement of the parents, the possibility that they will suspend or delete the children’s accounts, the prohibition of the advertisement to minors, filtering and labeling the content by age categories, as well as fines proportional to the turnover for the platforms that violate the law. Unlike current European regulations, the initiative concerns not only digital giants, but all online services, including small sites, gaming applications and bank platforms. It has not been voted and for the moment remains in the stage of legislative proposal located in the parliamentary procedure.
