Blagojević: Legal bans can't replace dialogue and parental guidance

The consequences of excessive use of social media among children include fatigue, sleep disorders, irritability, reduced motivation for responsibilities, and lower tolerance for boredom. Children up to the age of 13 are in a sensitive stage of development - they are only beginning to form self-control, a sense of personal boundaries, self-confidence, and critical thinking. If the law sends a clear message that children have the right to a safer digital environment, I see that as a good starting point – teacher of Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian (MSBC) language and literature Jovanka Blagojević at „Vuk Karadžić“ elementary school, and a trainer at the Institute for Media, told „Pobjeda“.

Commenting on the proposed Law on the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment, she said that no ban is sufficient unless accompanied by dialogue and education.

The draft law was submitted to parliamentary procedure by Socialist People's Party MPs Slađana Kaluđerović and Bogdan Božović. At a press conference, Kaluđerović stated that as many as 73 percent of children aged nine to sixteen have a profile on social media. She explained that the proposed legislation includes several bans and restrictions and is aligned with European Union (EU) directives adopted in November 2025.

Although no European country has yet fully introduced a ban on social media use for children, processes toward introducing such bans are underway. Norway, Greece, United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy, and Netherlands are among the many European states considering some form of restriction. At the same time, the European Union is increasingly leaning toward supporting such policies, seeking to follow the example of Australia, which has already introduced a law banning social media for children under 16.

PROTECTIVE MEASURE

In an interview with „Pobjeda“, Jovanka Blagojević said that, as someone who works with children every day, especially those in the age group targeted by the law, she views the proposal primarily as a protective measure.

- Children up to the age of 13 are in a sensitive developmental phase - they are only forming self-control, a sense of personal boundaries, self-confidence, and critical thinking. Social media platforms are often designed to retain attention and encourage comparison, and children at that age do not yet have the capacity to recognize manipulative patterns. If the law sends a clear message that children have the right to a safer digital environment, I see that as a good beginning - Blagojević said.

She understands the proposed measures as an attempt to provide children with time for healthy maturation without the pressure of the public digital sphere. She added that she does not see this as punishment, but rather as a message that childhood has value and deserves protection.

- However, no ban by itself is sufficient unless accompanied by dialogue, education, and clear support for parents and schools - Blagojević told „Pobjeda“.

Blagojević believes that this type of legal regulation could have a real impact on the behavior and development of children aged nine to thirteen, especially because children at that age strongly follow their peers.

- If society sets a clear norm that a certain digital space is risky and that boundaries exist, it will be easier for parents and schools to enforce them consistently. Still, the real effect will depend on the implementation of the law and on how much we simultaneously invest in digital literacy and the development of critical thinking - she said.

She most often notices shortened attention spans and a need for constant stimulation.

- It is harder for children to stay focused on a longer text or a task that requires patience. In their expression, there is sometimes a tendency toward short, underdeveloped sentences. The habit of fast communication spills over into the classroom, where they are expected to think critically and argue their views – she said adding that in everyday communication among students she sees a strong influence of „online language“ (abbreviations, emojis, memes, slang).

Speaking about whether this has a concrete impact on their school performance and written expression, she said she does not believe it is a „collapse of language“, but rather a serious mixing of styles and standards.

- Children have begun shortening both what can and what cannot be shortened. The habit of fast, informal communication is transferred into school assignments, resulting in sentences without structure, without punctuation, and with insufficiently developed ideas. The biggest problem is not slang itself, but the fact that children increasingly struggle to distinguish everyday chat language from clear, correct, and well-structured written expression. Much more effort is needed for them to understand that a school assignment is not a group message, but a space where thought is developed, argued, and shaped in full sentences. This is a challenge all teachers face today - Blagojević emphasized.

Among some children, she sees that frequent social media use affects their ability to read with comprehension and to construct quality sentences.

- The habit of short and fast content makes it harder to read longer texts with concentration. And a quality sentence requires time, reflection, and connecting ideas. Nevertheless, with systematic work and encouragement to read, these skills can be developed and strengthened - she stressed.

In practice, she sees fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritability, reduced motivation for responsibilities, and lower tolerance for boredom as negative consequences of excessive social media use among children.

PEER PRESSURE

Blagojević notes that peer pressure and the risk of digital violence are also present, adding that children sometimes struggle to cope with the constant comments and comparisons in the online space.

Asked whether parental verification (for ages 13–16) might be a more appropriate option than a complete ban, she responded that for that age group it could be a reasonable compromise.

- Children aged 13 to 16 seek greater autonomy, but they still need adult support and supervision. If the system enables safe control mechanisms while respecting privacy, that could be a balanced solution - she said.

On the other hand, she emphasized that certain positive aspects of internet and social media use among children should be preserved and encouraged.

- The internet can be a powerful tool for learning, creative expression, and the development of digital skills. Through digital tools, children learn to create, explore, and communicate. It is important to preserve that creative and educational dimension, but with clear boundaries and protection - said Blagojević, who, as a teacher, strives daily to educate students about the safe and responsible use of the internet and social media.

She said she tries to address the topic constantly, not just occasionally.

- I use every situation as an opportunity for discussion - especially during homeroom class, but also during regular lessons whenever possible. If something happens at school or we hear about something affecting children their age, I do not ignore it, we talk openly. I often show them adapted educational videos and testimonies from children their age, because sometimes a message heard from peers has a stronger effect than advice from an adult. Together we analyze situations: what could have been done differently, how they could have protected themselves, whom they could turn to. I explain concretely and simply: how to protect personal data, why they should not share photos, how to recognize manipulation, and where to report disturbing content - Blagojević said.

She emphasized that she works on this continuously because she believes digital safety today is not an additional topic, but part of basic upbringing and education.

Speaking about her experience working with students exposed to digital violence or inappropriate content, she said that unfortunately such situations do occur.

- First, I try to ensure that the child feels safe and supported. Then we involve the school’s professional services and parents, following school protocols. The most important thing is that the child knows they are not to blame and that there is a system that protects them - Blagojević said.

The topic of responsible digital behavior can be addressed through language classes (media literacy), through homeroom, and interdisciplinarily - in cooperation with the school’s professional services, she noted, adding that digital literacy today is part of general culture.

- To parents who oppose potential bans, I would say that I understand the fear of excessive restrictions, but we are talking about protecting children in a sensitive stage of development. To those who support restrictions, I would say that no law can replace conversation and parental presence. The best results are achieved when the family, school, and system act together. Social media is part of modern life, but it must not become the center of a child’s world. A child has the right to a childhood filled with real relationships, play, and safety. It is our responsibility to be calm and consistent support - to set boundaries, but also to teach children how to use the digital world wisely, responsibly, and safely - Blagojević concluded.

HARMONIZATION

In the Parliament of Montenegro, a working meeting was held on February 19 regarding the proposed Law on the Protection of Minors in the Digital Environment, at the initiative of MP Kaluđerović, the proposer of the law.

- The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Working Group established by the Ministry of Culture and Media for the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), the Digital Services Act (DSA), and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Working Group brings together representatives of relevant ministries, the Office of the Prime Minister, regulatory bodies, the judiciary, the media community, and the civil sector in Montenegro - the SPP statement said.

The focus of the meeting was on harmonizing the proposed solutions with the legal acquis of the European Union, particularly with the obligations arising from the DSA in the area of protection of minors, management of systemic risks, and the obligations of platforms accessible to children.

- As a key normative novelty of the draft law, the ban on the use of social media for children under the age of 13 was highlighted, while for those aged 13 to 16 use would be permitted only with mandatory consent from a parent or guardian. This solution relies on the concept of a digital minimum age, which is increasingly present in legislative initiatives of EU member states, given the rise of systemic risks for minors in the digital environment, including exposure to harmful content, manipulative algorithmic practices, profiling, and commercial exploitation - Kaluđerović said.

At the same time, it was clarified that the ban would not apply to digital platforms and services specifically designed for children, that is, those developed in accordance with the principles of safety, privacy, and protection of minors by design and by default (safety by design and privacy by default), in line with the DSA and relevant guidelines of the European Commission.

- It was concluded that the protection of minors in the digital space represents a matter of public interest that requires a coordinated institutional approach, precise normative regulation, a clear division of responsibilities, and effective supervision and enforcement mechanisms. The participants agreed that further work on the text of the law should proceed through continuous dialogue between the legislative and executive branches, regulatory bodies, and the expert public, with the aim of establishing a sustainable, EU-aligned, and legally consistent model for the protection of minors in Montenegro’s digital environment - the statement said.

EXPERIENCES

Many governments are likely to rely on the experience of Australia, which in December became the first country in the world to introduce a ban on social media for those under 16.

That policy relies on oversight by the social media companies themselves. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and Reddit - which has filed a lawsuit against the ban - are now subject to age restrictions, while online games and messaging applications such as WhatsApp are not covered by the ban.

Research currently being widely conducted in the European Union shows that children aged 10 to 13 have exhibited the most pronounced negative consequences of social media use - especially girls. Although European proposals do not set the same age limits as Australia, such changes are likely to face resistance from minors who have already created accounts on these networks.

The Digital Services Act, adopted a year ago, already addresses and regulates many safety concerns, and the way European Union law functions makes it quite complex to oblige platforms to implement national bans.

However, it remains unclear how this will look in practice, given that not enough time has passed to assess Australia’s experience. Australia itself illustrates the gap between the political call for a decisive ban and the technical and legal complexities of its implementation. Large-scale age verification requires either comprehensive control infrastructure or probabilistic profiling - both of which represent a significant intrusion into the rights of all users. Europe, with its strong frameworks for the protection of fundamental rights and the GDPR, would face these tensions even more acutely.