Parents express outrage as hearing on social media regulation faces significant delay

MILAN – The first hearing in a landmark class action against major social media companies has been postponed by three months, sparking disappointment and concern among parents’ associations, according to judicial sources.

The lawsuit, filed before the Business Court of Milan, seeks to establish tighter safeguards shielding minors from what campaigners describe as the harmful effects of social media algorithms. Initially scheduled for February 12, the hearing will now take place on May 14.

In a joint statement, the associations backing the case expressed ‘strong distress and concern’, with the postponement serving as a “further delay in protecting thousands of Italian children and adolescents”. 

The case targets Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alongside TikTok, a platform dominated by younger users. It is a movement supported by several prominent associations, including Moige (Movimento Italiano Genitori), Associazione Nazionale Famiglie Numerose, AGE, and the Forum delle Associazioni Familiari.

At the heart of the legal challenge are three fundamental demands. The first of which is the introduction of robust age verification systems, with parents concerned that simple self-declaration mechanisms have failed to prevent young children from creating their own accounts. In addition, campaigners seek the removal of AI-powered algorithms designed to promote constant engagement, due to fears around addictive behaviours and exposure to explicit or damaging content. Finally, parents associations seek to pressure platforms to provide clear information to caregivers about the potential mental health and welfare risks associated with excessive use of social media amongst young people. 

This latest development comes amid wider international debate around the regulation of social media use amongst minors. Australia, for example, recently became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media for adolescents under the age of sixteen, a move made possible by a bipartisan effort and decades of campaigning from concerned and bereaved parents. 

As a member of the European Union, however, Italy must ensure that its national measures comply with EU digital market rules and restrictions, including data privacy and freedom of expression. Any outright ban on social media access may come under security from EU representatives, and would prove challenging to implement across all twenty seven member states. 

 Questions remain as to how effective the proposed measures of age verification may be, without infringing upon european privacy rights and placing an unnecessary burden upon platforms and users. As representatives continue to strive to reconcile child protection obligations with the protection of civil liberties, the Milan case remains a poignant example of the difficulties involved in holding global tech to account.