Estonia: Opposing Bans on Children’s Social Media Use
Estonia and Belgium are the only two EU member states to have declined the Jutland Declaration, an October 2025 pan-European commitment to restrict children’s access to social media.
In short:
While most EU countries signed the declaration, Estonia and Belgium refused. Belgium’s refusal was procedural, while Estonia took a principled stand, arguing that:
- Age-based bans are unenforceable.
- Children will find ways around them.
- The correct approach is to enforce the GDPR against platforms and invest in digital literacy.
The Declaration:
On October 10, 2025, digital ministers from 25 of the EU’s 27 member states signed the Jutland Declaration in Denmark. Norway and Iceland also participated. The declaration aims to:
- Implement age-verifying privacy protections on social media platforms.
- Address addictive design features targeting minors.
- Move towards a "digital legal age" for online service access.
Global Trends:
The political momentum behind the declaration reflects a growing trend globally, with countries like Australia, France, Spain, and Austria implementing or planning restrictions on children’s social media use. Greece has also announced plans to ban under-15s from 2027 as part of a six-country EU grouping.
Estonia’s Stance:
Estonia’s dissent is voiced by Kristina Kallas, Minister of Education and Research, who argues:
- Banning children is placing responsibility on them, while platforms should be held accountable under GDPR regulations.
- Europe should challenge powerful corporations and take a stronger stance.
This perspective underscores Estonia’s commitment to balancing youth protection with the need for uninhibited participation in the digital society.