New regulations could be introduced to safeguard under-16s on social media sites

The internet can be a scary place and it's impossible to monitor what your kids are looking at all of the time. However new regulations, which could be passed by the European Parliament, may go some way to help protect the information of those under the age of 16. The new regulations could make it illegal for companies to handle data from anybody aged 15 or under without parental consent. In other words, if the amendments are introduced, those under the age of 16 will need permission from their parent or guardian in order to join social media sites. According to the Financial Times, if companies fail to comply with these regulations under the new law, they will face fines of up to 4 per cent global turnover. Lawmakers will vote on this issue on Thursday.