The protection of minors in the online environment has become an increasingly important concern as children and adolescents make extensive use of online platforms (social media, video sharing, online games, messaging applications, etc.). The Digital Services Act (DSA) introduces clear obligations for online platforms and sets out measures aimed at creating a safer digital environment for minors.
ANCOM reminds users of the obligations imposed on online platforms and highlights the measures that parents, guardians and minors can take to reduce the risks associated with the use of digital services.
What obligations do online platforms have towards underage users?
According to the Digital Services Act, online platforms that are accessible to minors must adopt appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors using their services.
Thus, online platforms are prohibited from using minors’ personal data for profiling-based advertising purposes, and they must implement effective content reporting and moderation mechanisms. Furthermore, online platforms must take into account the specific rights and vulnerabilities of minors when designing their digital services, including user interfaces, recommendation systems and functionalities that can influence the behaviour of young users.
To reduce faced by children and young people online, the European Commission has developed the Guidelines on the protection of minors online, which include a range of concrete measures aimed at protecting minors from online risks, such as: grooming, harmful content, addictive online behaviours, cyberbullying, harmful commercial practices, and exposure to content that promotes self-harm, eating disorders or dangerous online challenges.
Key recommendations for very large online platforms
Although the European Commission’s guidelines are not legally binding, they are an important benchmark in assessing compliance with the obligations set out in the Digital Services Act. Recommended measures for online platforms include:
- assessing and mitigating the risks to which children and adolescents may be exposed online;
- designing interfaces that incorporate safety and privacy protections for minors by service design;
- implementing appropriate mechanisms to verify or estimate users’ ages;
- setting minors’ accounts to private by default in order to reduce the risk of unsolicited contact;
- adapting recommendation systems to limit minors’ exposure to harmful or age-inappropriate content;
- avoiding the use of design elements that may encourage excessive use of online platforms or foster compulsive behaviour;
- implementing effective and user-friendly mechanisms for reporting illegal or harmful content;
- providing parents and guardians with parental control tools and features to help manage minors’ online experiences.
The European Commission has produced a series of dedicated materials explaining the provisions of the Digital Services Act and the Guidelines, such as „Digital Services Act (DSA) in brief – Measures to protect children and young people online” and „Digital Services Act (DSA) explained – What online platforms should do to protect children and adolescents online”.
ANCOM’s recommendations on the protection of minors online
Although the minimum age for using online services is generally 13, 16, or 18 years, depending on the terms and conditions of individual platforms, regarding accounts used by minors, ANCOM makes the following recommendations for parents and minors:
- keep the default safety and privacy settings enabled for underage users;
- avoid sharing personal information online;
- use the blocking and reporting tools provided by platforms to report inappropriate behaviour and harmful or illegal content;
- avoid accessing suspicious materials;
- avoid excessive use of online platforms;
- regularly monitor the time spent online and use tools that help limit usage time;
- encourage frequent and open discussions between parents and minors about online risks and appropriate responses to unpleasant or dangerous situations;
- seek support from a trusted adult (parent, guardian, or teacher) whenever problems are encountered online.
To support users of digital services, ANCOM has developed dedicated information materials on the protection of minors in the online environment, available on the ANCOM Infocentre. In addition, between April and May 2026, ANCOM carried out an information and awareness campaign on the Digital Services Act (DSA), focusing on the protection of minors online, and will continue its information and educational activities in the autumn of this year. Further details are available here.
Keep in mind! Responsibility for supervising compliance with the DSA varies depending on the type of online platform and the Member State in which the platform has its registered office or designated legal representative. As Romania’s Digital Services Coordinator, ANCOM supervises compliance with DSA obligations by online platforms established in Romania.
In the case of very large online platforms and very large online search engines (such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, etc.), supervision of compliance with the Digital Services Act is carried out primarily by the European Commission, either independently or in cooperation with the Digital Services Coordinator of the Member State where the platform is established.
For other online platforms (e.g. Roblox, Discord, etc.) supervision is carried out by the Digital Services Coordinator of the country where the platform is established or where its designated legal representative is located.
ANCOM forwards complaints concerning alleged violations of the DSA by online platforms headquartered or represented in other European Union countries to the competent Digital Services Coordinators.
Further information on the implementation in Romania of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a single market for digital services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) is available here.