Dr. Antonia Torrens, General Director of KMOP and President of COFACE Families Europe, was invited to join a special panel hosted by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to advise the Commission on child safety online and potential age limits for social media platforms in Europe.
At its first meeting on 5 March 2026, the Special Panel assessed current evidence on the risks and benefits associated with children’s use of social media and other online activities. It also discussed existing approaches to online safety within the EU as well as in third countries.
During her intervention, Dr. Torrens highlighted that:
Children today grow up in a digital environment where opportunities and risks often coexist. Digital technologies and online platforms can support children’s learning, creativity and participation in society, but they may also expose them to risks related to their cognitive and psychological development, as well as to their mental and physical health, including behavioural disturbances at various levels. For this reason, it is essential to rethink and redesign digital environments so that children’s safety is placed at their core. This requires evidence-based policies and the responsible design of digital platforms, while also ensuring that the voices and experiences of children themselves are taken into account.
The group brings together experts from across the EU in fields including health, neuroscience, psychology, computer science, child rights, and digital literacy. Its work is expected to conclude by summer 2026, when recommendations will be submitted to the European Commission, contributing to the development of further initiatives at the European level to strengthen the protection of children online.
Through its participation in this special panel, KMOP contributes its longstanding expertise in child protection, policy design, and digital wellbeing to ongoing European policy discussions on safer digital environments for children.
Discover more on the European Commission website.
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