PSD MEP Gabriela Firea proposes banning access to social networks for young people under 13 and the necessity of parental consent until the age of 16.

Gabriela Firea, PSD MEP, stated that banning young people from accessing social networks does not represent a constraint on rights, but a necessary protective measure for children. During a discussion in the European Parliament, Firea proposed that access to social networks for minors should be prohibited until the age of 13, and that between the ages of 13 and 16, parental consent should be required. She mentioned a recent incident in which a mayor from Giurgiu harassed a 13-year-old girl online, highlighting the risks children are exposed to. Firea recommended that parents become "policemen" of the digital environment by installing control applications and educating themselves about online dangers. This proposal was also supported by Raed Arafat, head of DSU, who emphasized that social networks can affect children's mental health. In contrast, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Cătălin Predoiu, warned that bans are difficult to implement and do not solve the problem, highlighting the risks of an excessive approach.