A parliamentary committee has not passed, at first reading, a bill to limit access to social media and video platforms for children under 16. The labour, demographic and social policy committee voted 7 for, 1 against and 12 abstentions.
Kostadin Angelov of GERB-SDS and a group of MPs put forward the changes to the Child Protection Act. The bill also sets limits on social media access for children over 16.
Under the bill, a national mobile app called "Digital Wallet" would check a user's age. The Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation would build and run it. The app would exchange data with the National Population Database, run by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, and show whether a child is under or over 16. It would be free to use.
The authors say in their reasons that the measure would improve children's mental health, sleep, school results and social life. Angelov said experts had worked on the text for over a year. He added that France and Greece already limit social media.
Maria Todorova said "Progressive Bulgaria" abstained. Her colleague Milena Nedeva agreed that social networks harm children's health and minds. But she said what is banned often becomes very attractive.
"If we ban online networks too, we may push children towards the so-called dark web," Nedeva said. She said the focus should instead be on digital education and on preventing the dangers online.
Galya Vasileva of GERB-SDS said the text could be improved between first and second reading. She said the state must decide what it can do, because children spend hours on social media and adults do not realise what content they see there.
The DPS backed the changes. Aiten Sabri said child protection must keep pace with the challenges of the time. She said violence against children is no longer only physical and increasingly moves online. "We must be clear that online violence has real consequences for children," she said.
"Democratic Bulgaria", which has its own bill on the subject, also backed the text. Anna Bodakova called social media one of the most serious problems facing children. She said children need protection and parents need help to give it. Bodakova said it must be clear who is responsible for "Digital Wallet".
"We Continue the Change" backed the bill at first reading. Committee chair Venko Sabrutev said the support is in principle, because something must be done about social media and child protection.
Sabrutev also gave the views of the institutions on the bill. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation abstain. The Ministry of Education and Science backs it in principle, but with a number of remarks. The State Agency for Child Protection also backs it in principle.
Maria Todorova proposed postponing the quick question session with labour and social policy minister Natalia Efremova, which was on the agenda, to the committee's next meeting.