ISTANBUL

The European Commission held the first meeting Thursday of a newly created expert panel to strengthen protections for children online and explore possible age limits for access to social media.

The Special Panel on Child Safety Online, announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her 2025 State of the Union address, will provide recommendations on how to better protect minors in the digital environment.

“For decades, we have made the real world safer for children, and we must do the same in the digital world,” von der Leyen said, according to a statement. “The positive opportunities that technology offers cannot come at the cost of their safety, health or happiness.”

The panel will examine the risks and benefits of children’s online activities, including social media use, gaming, messaging applications and artificial intelligence tools.

Participants also discussed issues such as age-appropriate safety design, addictive features and algorithms on platforms, as well as digital literacy for children, parents and teachers.

The panel is co-chaired by Maria Melchior of France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research, and professor Jorg M. Fegert from Ulm University Medical Centre. It includes youth representatives and experts in health, computer science and child rights.

The initiative builds on existing EU measures, including the Digital Services Act, which places obligations on technology platforms to protect minors online.

The panel will meet several times starting in March and is expected to present recommendations to the Commission by the summer.