Pellegrini: Slovakia Should Join Under-15 Social Media Ban

New Delhi/Bratislava, 19 February (TASR-correspondent) - Slovakia should join the group of countries seeking to ban social media for children under 15, President Peter Pellegrini told the media on Thursday in New Delhi, where a summit on artificial intelligence is being held. French President Emmanuel Macron stressed at the event the need to protect children not only from AI but also from "digital abuse", TASR's special correspondent has reported. Pellegrini discussed the issue of banning social media for children with Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday. "These three countries have already decided in favour of the ban and are preparing legislation. Some already have it," he noted. He expects other countries to join the ban gradually. The president believes that Slovakia should prohibit children from using social media, citing the mental health of young people and an increase in the incidence of various psychological disorders among the younger generation. The head of state also wants attention to be paid to ensuring that any ban is enforced. "On the one hand, the government can prohibit or prevent children from accessing social media by law, but on the other, you must agree with those who operate these technologies on how they will guarantee it and enforce it technology-wise," said Pellegrini. He therefore expects technology companies operating social media platforms to cooperate and seek the most appropriate solution with governments. "If not, there will again be a conflict between those who own the technologies and governments that want to regulate them," said the president. According to him, permission to use social media could come hand-in-hand with issuing an identity card at the age of 15. mf/df