Education Minister Calls for Strict Parental Control on Social Media

The Minister of Education and Research, Daniel David, told Parliament that Romania must open a serious discussion on teenagers' access to platforms like TikTok, but believes that harsh bans could have the opposite effect. The statement comes in the context in which several states are analyzing stricter regulations to protect minors online. Asked about the possibility of Romania banning children under 16 from TikTok, a measure already adopted in Australia, but still in a phase without sanctions, the minister replied that such an option can be debated, but not necessarily implemented immediately.

Daniel David emphasized that, in his opinion, a firm parental control system is more effective than a total ban. "My fear is that if you ban various things, you might create mechanisms through which teenagers will try to avoid the ban and will be there anyway without controlling what is happening,” the minister warned. In this regard, he insisted that families must be supported with clear tools and guidelines to monitor and manage their children's online behavior. "I think stronger parental control would be a good middle ground,” David said, adding that the national debate must start as soon as possible to find solutions adapted to the digital realities in Romania. The minister's statements come against the backdrop of a global shift in attitude towards the impact of social networks on the mental health of young people. Australia recently announced its intention to block children under 16 from accessing TikTok and Instagram, following a report on the negative effects on behavior and cognitive development. In Europe, France and Italy are discussing similar mechanisms, and the European Commission is analyzing common standards regarding online safety for minors. In Romania, however, any decision to limit access to platforms would require consultations between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Research, psychology specialists, NGOs and technology companies. For now, Minister Daniel David advocates caution and a balanced approach: not total blocking, but parental empowerment and involvement.