A possible ban on social media for young people was discussed in the Chamber on Wednesday during a current affairs session. The Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) Justice Minister Elisabeth Margue said the government favours a European solution, although action at national level could not be ruled out.
Democratic Party (DP) MP Mandy Minella, who requested the session, said the risks social media poses to children’s development were well documented. She argued that limiting access to platforms such as Instagram therefore made sense.
At the same time, she warned against making children and young people feel excluded, saying that a general ban up to the age of 16 would be fairer and more appropriate, ideally at European level.
CSV MP Riccardo Marques also supported restricted access to social media for those under 16. However, he said regulation alone would not be sufficient and called for stronger media literacy programmes, for example in schools.
Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) MP Ben Polidori urged the government not to wait solely for action from the European Union. He said Luxembourg should prepare a national response so that it would be ready to act if no agreement were reached at a European level.
Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) MP Fred Keup said it would certainly be beneficial for children to spend less time on their mobile phones, but argued that a ban would go too far for his party.
He pointed out that social contact, which once took place mainly in school playgrounds or in person, increasingly also happens by phone and via social media. These platforms, he said, can help young people build connections, find support and develop a sense of belonging that is not always available offline.
He also noted that social media has become an important source of information, adding that a complete ban would not be the right approach.
Minister Margue said it was the responsibility of politicians to act, adding that the evidence on the dangers of social media was clear.
However, she argued that the most effective solution would be a European one and plenty of work is already underway on the EU level. Harmful content, she said, does not stop at national borders, which is why a coordinated and ambitious approach at EU level would be preferable to a patchwork of national measures.
At the same time, the minister said Luxembourg could not simply wait for the EU to act. An inter-ministerial working group has therefore been working for several months on possible national solutions, while the government also intends to maintain pressure at European level.
At the end of the session, Ben Polidori’s draft bill was referred to the relevant parliamentary committee, where it will be examined and debated further.
