“Check against delivery”
Emma,
Thank you so much for your words, it is not easy to speak after you.
Anthony, Prime Minister,
My fellow leaders,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentleman,
Thank you for bringing us together today and thank you for your leadership on such an important issue. This bold decision is an example of what middle powers but determined countries can do. Since the announcement of Australias landmark minimum age law, I have been watching closely. And I have been inspired by Australias example. Firstly, that you are the first to give this a try. And that when your loud critics tell you ‘this will not work, ‘that it cannot be done, ‘that the tech genie cannot be put back in the bottle, you are persisting. We in Europe are watching and will be learning from you as you implement your world-first, and world-leading social media ban. Because it has been also a hot topic in Europe. Because it is for parents to raise our children and not for algorithms. Our next generation needs us to step up, to be daring and give this a go. In just 15 years, across the EU children aged 9 to 15 more than doubled the time they spend on screens and social media. These apps are working as they are designed – to attract and addict children to manipulative algorithms that are ultimately geared – let us be frank, to return profits for the tech billionaires in Silicon Valley. This business is not for charity. But parents live with the risks and harms of this every day: Cyber-bullying. Encouragement of self-harm. Online predators. Addictive algorithms. It is up to us to protect our next generation.
In Europe we have been taking steps already. We have begun the work of requiring effective age verification. So that even online – and especially online – kids can be just that: kids. This summer, the Commission released a prototype for an age-verification method designed to work across our Union. Five of our Member States – France, Spain, Greece, Denmark, and Italy – are currently testing the pilot. We would be happy to share these results with you.
Many Member States believe the time has come for a ‘digital majority age for access to social media. And I must tell you as a mother of seven children, and grandmother of five, I share their view. As a parent, it is obvious that this is plain common-sense. We all agree that young people should reach a certain age before they smoke, drink, or access adult content. The same can be said for social media. This is why I will establish a panel of experts to assess what steps make sense at the European level. Throughout this process, we will listen as well to the true experts on this issue: Parents. Teachers. Scientists. And most importantly, young people themselves.
We have no reason to fear the future. The technological revolution has already brought huge benefits to our lives – and will bring more. But we can clarify our relationship with tech, so that it serves us and not the other way around.
Prime Minister,
Thank you to the people of Australia for your leadership on this issue. I note that this enjoys bipartisan support in Australia, and that it is an overwhelmingly popular policy in the community. This gives me hope that it will be similarly backed by a broad cross-section of society in Europe. Because everyone understands that it is our duty to do our best to equip families with the tools to live as safely as possible. Empowering parents to collectively say ‘no to social media to their young children is one of these tools.
As I have said before, when it comes to the EU-Australia relationship, there is no distance between democracy. The same goes for good ideas. I look forward to working with you on this.
