By Sharon KimathiEnergy and ESG Editor, Reuters Digital
sharon.kimathi@thomsonreuters.com
Today’s newsletter will focus on technology, social, and governance issues concerning social media, with countries banning children and teenagers from social media, concerns around the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, and a lawsuit on Instagram and YouTube addiction putting the sector in the spotlight.
Let’s first start with the countries cracking down on social media use for children.
It started in Australia that implemented a landmark law that forced major social media platforms to block minors under 16 from December 10, 2025.
The recent surge in artificial intelligence-generated content and public outcry over reports of Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot generating non-consensual sexual images, including of minors, have fueled a debate over the risks of such online content.
The United Nations children's agency UNICEF called for countries to criminalize the creation of AI-generated child sexual abuse content, saying it was alarmed by reports of an increase in the number of AI-generated images sexualizing children.
But before we get into the most recent countries jumping on the bandwagon, here are a few diversity and women’s rights stories from the United States that also made waves in recent days:
Arizona court strikes down abortion restriction laws
US appeals court rejects challenge to Trump's efforts to ban DEI
Alpine skiing-U.S. gold medal hope Shiffrin speaks up for diversity and inclusion
Toddler was returned to ICE custody and denied medication after hospitalization
Social media bans: who has them in place?
So far, Australia remains the only country that has fully implemented the ban.
The European Parliament has called for the European Union to set minimum ages for children to access social media and AI chatbots to ensure "age-appropriate online engagement", but it will be up to each country to decide on minimum age requirements.
According to a statement published on the European Parliament's website, lawmakers are calling for a harmonized EU digital minimum age of 16 for access to social media, video-sharing platforms and AI companions, while allowing 13- to 16-year-olds access with parental consent.
Last month, French lawmakers approved a bill banning social media for children under 15. The bill passed through a divided French National Assembly by 116 votes to 23. It now passes to the Senate before a final vote in the lower house.
Last week, Spain and Greece proposed bans on social media use by teenagers. Spain wants to prohibit social media for under-16s, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, while Greece is close to announcing a similar ban for children under 15, a senior government source said.
Social media bans: who’s thinking about them?
Quite a lot of countries are launching consultations and studies around banning social media platforms for children under 16.
In Turkey, President Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party is set to propose a draft law that would ban social media for minors and require platforms to install filtering systems.
Last week, Germany’s conservative bloc floated a ban on social media for under‑16s, though its centre‑left coalition partners are hesitant. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative party says platforms must better protect young people by regulating their business models, adding safeguards, and limiting aggressive recommendation systems.
Last month, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government was considering similar legislation and assessing whether the current digital age of consent was set too low. The UK government launched a consultation on whether to ban under-16s from social media platforms.
India's chief economic adviser called in January for age restrictions on social media platforms, describing them as "predatory" in how they keep users engaged online. The state of Goa, a popular tourism destination, has said it was weighing restrictions akin to Australia's, and several other Indian states are studying similar measures.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said he was in favor of banning the use of social media by children under 15. "I am in favor because the experts I know say that it is terribly harmful to children. We must protect our children," Babis said in a regular video message posted on several of his social media accounts on Sunday.
Click here for a brief Reuters article on some other countries that are thinking about it.
Talking Points
Special report: Sticking with today’s focus on technology, today’s top story is a Reuters investigation on the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Proponents predict the new technology will help the industry. But a Reuters review of safety and legal records, as well as interviews with doctors, nurses, scientists and regulators, revealed some of the hazards of AI in medicine as device makers, tech giants and software developers race to roll it out. Click here for the full report.
Big Tech addiction: A 20-year-old woman identified as K.G.M. filed a lawsuit in California against Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms and Alphabet's Google, which owns YouTube, this week. She alleges the apps fueled her depression and suicidal thoughts and she is seeking to hold the companies liable.
Aussie Roblox concerns: The Australian government has called a meeting with gaming platform Roblox over reports of child grooming and exposure to graphic content on the platform. Communications Minister Anika Wells said she wrote to the U.S.-listed tech firm expressing "grave concern" about reports that children were being approached by predators and exposed to harmful material.
Europe Grok and X investigations: French police raided the offices of Elon Musk's social media network X last week as prosecutors ordered the tech billionaire to face questions in a widening investigation. Britain's privacy watchdog also kicked off a formal investigation into Musk's AI chatbot Grok over the processing of personal data and its potential to produce harmful sexualized images and video content.
ESG Spotlight
In keeping with today’s focus on technology, today’s spotlight shines a light on the convergence between tech and culturally significant events.
In China, humanoid robots are serving as Lunar New Year entertainment, with their manufacturers pitching their song-and-dance skills to the general public as well as potential customers, investors and government officials.
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