The European parliament has called for an EU-wide age limit of 13 for children to access social media, and 16 to do so without parental consent.

MEPs also called for a ban on addictive practices that “are detrimental to children’s ability to concentrate and engage healthily with online content”, including infinite scrolling, autoplay, pull-to-refresh, reward loops and harmful gamification.

EU rules should also apply to online video platforms and gaming features, and financial incentives for children acting as influencers should be prohibited, MEPs say.

The resolution, passed with 483 votes to 92 (mostly from the far right) and 86 abstentions, is non-legislative and non-binding but aims to pressure the European Commission to make proposals to protect minors online.

In October, the commission launched an investigation asking Snapchat, YouTube, the Apple App Store and Google Play to provide information about the measures they take to safeguard minors on their services.

Brussels also set up an advisory panel to make recommendations on how to ensure a safe experience for minors using social media.

GroenLinks MEP Kim van Sparrentak said this was “a historic vote”.

“We will no longer tolerate that big tech companies profit over the demise of our mental health, society and youngsters,” she said. “We know the harm the online environment brings to kids. Social media are swamps that drag us into worlds that promote radicalisation, self-harm or eating disorders.”

Screen time, she said, is going through the roof, with one in four children displaying behavioural patterns mirroring smartphone addiction, with huge risks for children’s development, attention span and health.

“We know the chat rooms of online video games are a too easy gateway for groomers,” she said. “We know chatbots have recommended young people to take their own lives… now we need the political will to demand from these big corporations that they make the internet a safe place again.”

According to studies, 97% of young people go online every day, 78% of 13 to 17-year-olds check their devices at least every hour, and social media pressure has been identified as one of the top five causes of mental health difficulties for minors.

Dutch vote

Earlier this year a majority of Dutch MPs voted in favour of an age limit of 15 for using social media such as TikTok, X and Instagram.

The limit would not be a legal ban but a guideline. MPs said they want the cabinet to explore ways of including the age limit in European legislation which, unlike a general norm, could be enforced.