Few things are as potentially dangerous to children in developed nations as social media, and though many governments and organizations have made efforts to raise awareness of its dangers, it hasn’t been nearly enough. That being said, the European Union’s proposal to make it illegal for people under the age of sixteen to have social media accounts might not be the solution. Several groups have already criticized the proposed restrictions, not only on the grounds that it would hinder the ability of children to access the numerous benefits of the Web, but that there’s no way for social media companies to reliably confirm that someone isn’t just lying about their age or faking a parent’s consent.
