Brussels, Belgium – E be like say di European Union no wan dey play o! Dem don put Apple, YouTube, Snapchat and Google for on top their hot seat, dey ask dem how dem dey protect children from online wahala.
Last Friday, di EU Commission don send dem official waka for Digital Services Act (DSA), e mean say dem wan make sure say children dey safe for social media. Henna Virkkunen, di EU tech boss, talk am clear: “Privacy, security and safety must dey shine, but e no always dey so.” Na so di wahala begin, as dem dey investigate how these platforms dey handle minors.
Dem dey especially dey look how Snapchat fit prevent children wey dem no reach 13 years from joining di platform, and how dem dey stop kids from accessing drugs and vapes. Omo, snap chat no bi small thing sha, but we don hear say e dey happen. Dem dey investigate how Apple Store and Google Play dey manage wetin children fit download. Omo, no be play dem go make we hear say kids dey use apps wey go make dem create nudity content! (Na wetin dem call ‘nudify apps’ o)
Henna explain say di EU dey serious about ensuring safety for children online, but e dey also dey provoke some American tech giants. Di US tech people don dey complain say dem dey face censorship, especially with di wahala wey don scatter ground. Na wetin happen when una dey try to protect your pikin!
As dem dey press dis issue, Snapchat dey under di spotlight because of claims say dem dey allow drug sales. Denmark Digital Minister, Caroline Stage Olsen, don speak out too, talk say di app fit use some eyeglass on top dis matter!
YouTube too no escape dem query as dem carry di serious matter enter di mix. Di EU wan know how di platform dey recommend videos wey fit cause palava for children. E be like say dem dey drop gbege wey pikin no suppose see.
Dis no be di first time di EU dey try put eye for how social media dey affect children. Dem don start to question Meta (where be Facebook and Instagram) and TikTok on top di same matter. Na wah, e no go easy for these platforms if dem no fit show how dem dey protect our children.
As dem dey hold meeting now, EU telecom ministers dey gather for Denmark to discuss how dem go fit introduce age verification for social media wey go help keep dem children safe. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen don even talk say Denmark dey plan to implement a ban on social media for pikin wey dey below 15 years. France don already set law say pikin wey dey under 15 need parental consent before dem fit use social media. Na serious matter be dis!
Top of di issue be di talks about creating a EU-wide digital age of majority. E fit change how many things dey happen for dis online space. Ursula von der Leyen, wey be di EU chief, don propose to gather experts wey go reason how dem fit tackle dis wahala big time. E be like say dis na di time to take big steps towards ensuring our kids no enter trouble for online space.
With all dis plan dey ground, e go sweet if di EU fit chop dis wahala well well, and make sure say di online world dey safe for our children. E no easy, but no wahala, dem dey try!
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