On Monday, July 13th, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicated that a European Union–wide identity verification system for social media users may be introduced soon. This initiative aims to establish age-appropriate restrictions on platforms, focusing on protecting minors from "age-inappropriate and addictive features," a category von der Leyen refers to as "social media plus."

"Social media is not a toy," von der Leyen said in a July 12 statement. She emphasized the need to set a legal age for minors to access social media, stating, "While ultimately it is up to parents to decide when children get their first smartphones, what we already have is a consensus that there needs to be a start date for the age children can join social media."

Von der Leyen promised to present a formal proposal after the summer, highlighting that the effort is about "putting power back into the hands of parents."

Separately, in the United States, Scarlett Pavlovich, a former nanny employed by author Neil Gaiman, filed a lawsuit in the Western District of Wisconsin. The suit alleges that Gaiman repeatedly sexually assaulted her while living in New Zealand, violating Wisconsin law and the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Additionally, the Bangkok Post reports that a citizen-sponsored Sex Worker Protection Bill in Thailand has encountered a procedural obstacle after being classified as a money bill, requiring Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's certification before parliamentary debate can proceed.

Observers note that these developments come amid broader concerns that the Western world may soon see the end of the open internet era, as governments increase regulatory controls over digital platforms.

Sources