Introduction of age restrictions on social media aligns with global challenges - OPINION

The steps taken by Azerbaijan to strengthen age restrictions and parental controls on social media are in line with global challenges and international practice, where similar legal mechanisms are already in effect in many countries.

As Report informs, this was stated by Milli Majlis deputy Elnara Akimova.

According to her, the main advantage of the amendments to the law "On the Protection of Children from Harmful Information," signed today by President Ilham Aliyev, lies not in banning social media, but in creating a safer digital environment for children and adolescents:

"Today, propaganda of violence, cyberbullying, propaganda of drugs and other harmful habits, aggressive behavioral patterns, and manipulative content on social media have a serious impact on the psychological development of minors. Age restrictions are aimed precisely at preventing these risks," the deputy said.

She added that international experience shows that children's digital safety has already become one of the priority areas of state policy: "In many countries, legal mechanisms are in place that provide for stricter age restrictions and strengthened parental controls, therefore the steps taken by Azerbaijan in this direction are in line with global challenges."

The deputy also emphasized that a single law is not sufficient to solve all problems.

"In order for young people to distance themselves from harmful habits, the family, school, and society must act around a common goal. When legal mechanisms, media literacy, and parental controls are applied together, the result is more effective. This decision is aimed not at restricting technologies, but at ensuring their safe use. The formation of a healthy digital environment will make an important contribution to protecting the moral, psychological, and intellectual development of children, as well as to raising a more responsible and sensible generation in the future," Akimova noted.