Meloni states that children can easily evade social media restrictions.

      Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated on Wednesday that her administration will not initiate a social media ban for teenagers, diverging from the strategies of Britain and France. "I am not opposed to a social media ban for those under 16, but I am also not convinced that this proposal alone will address the issue, as such a ban can be easily bypassed," she informed reporters at the conclusion of the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains.

      These remarks position Italy as a notable exception among leading European nations regarding age-based restrictions, which have emerged as a standard response to increasing concerns about children’s mental well-being and online safety.

      Meloni contended that such bans could "partially shift the problem to families" and that these restrictions will be ineffective unless governments exert more pressure on platforms to "fulfill their responsibilities." This perspective redirects the discussion from regulating children’s access to demanding significant changes from the companies that benefit from user engagement.

      While maintaining that she is not fundamentally against a ban for those under 16, Meloni indicated that her government has opted not to introduce a decree or bill, allowing parliament members to lead the conversation. Several political parties in Italy have proposed legislation to limit minors' access to social media, but none have been approved.

      The urgency for restrictions in Europe

      Earlier this week, Britain announced plans to prohibit social media access for those under 16, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer aiming to legislate this before Christmas and implement it by early 2027. The proposed restrictions are set to extend beyond conventional platforms to include gaming applications and AI chatbots, representing the broadest scope yet considered by a major democracy.

      France plans to enforce a ban for those under 15 later this year, with implementation starting in September. Canada is also taking steps to restrict access for those under 16, through its Digital Safety Act which encompasses social media and AI chatbots.

      However, initial findings from Australia, which enacted an under-16 ban in December, suggest that enforcement is more challenging than enacting legislation. The Australian government has accused Meta, TikTok, and YouTube of non-compliance, supporting Meloni’s assertion that bans without the cooperation of platforms lack substance.

      The G7 agreement

      The G7 leaders, including US President Donald Trump, endorsed a declaration focused on safeguarding children online that does not reference a ban on social media access. The US had previously voiced concerns about the British ban, cautioning against blanket measures.

      The declaration advocates for safety-by-design principles, age-appropriate recommendation systems, and action on AI-generated child sexual exploitation material. It is more in line with the EU’s Digital Services Act, which imposes content moderation and transparency responsibilities on platforms, than with the outright bans preferred by London and Paris.