UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on May 23 called on governments and technology companies to take urgent action to protect children in the digital space. In a statement, he emphasized that strengthening online child protection is an "urgent priority."
The call comes as many countries push for tighter controls on social media platforms, from age-based ban experiments to stricter regulations aimed at increasing accountability.
Along with the statement, the UN Human Rights Office released a set of guidelines to improve child safety online and protect their rights through tighter regulations. Measures include protections in age-verification processes, mandatory child-rights impact assessments, and the involvement of children in shaping regulations.
Mr. Turk warned: "Incorrect age verification can miss its target and endanger the privacy of both children and adults." He also noted that regulations focusing solely on user age risk overlooking the designs and algorithms that make platforms unsafe.
The wave of restricting children's access to social media expanded after Australia passed a law limiting children under 16 in December 2025. Indonesia and Malaysia have also adopted similar measures. In Europe, Austria announced plans to ban social media for children under 14, with a draft law expected to be finalized in June. Denmark and France plan to ban children under 15, while Spain plans a ban for those under 16. The UK is also considering similar restrictions.
However, many child safety experts argue that outright bans are insufficient. Chris Sherwood, CEO of the UK's National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), has urged governments to "ensure harmful content is blocked at source" and called on platforms to stop using design tricks that make teenagers addicted.
