Commissioner Michael McGrath, in a written answer on 23 June 2026, outlined a multi-pronged EU approach to shield children from the aggressive promotion of adult skincare products on social media, a practice that raises consumer protection, online safety, and mental health concerns. The answer, responding to a question from MEP Giuseppe Antoci (The Left), signals that the Commission views this as a cross-cutting issue requiring updates to consumer law, platform regulation, and digital literacy initiatives.
The Commissioner pointed to the planned Digital Fairness Act, expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, as a key vehicle to strengthen consumer protection rules, including regarding influencers. He also cited existing tools: the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD) already prohibits direct exhortations to children to buy products, and the Digital Services Act (DSA) requires platforms accessible to minors to provide a high level of privacy, safety, and security. The Commission's Guidelines on the protection of minors, published in 2025, include measures to shield minors from commercial practices that promote negative body image. McGrath further referenced the Influencer Legal Hub, an online resource launched by the Commission to educate influencers on their consumer law obligations.
On digital education, the Commissioner noted that the Digital Education Action Plan prioritises digital skills and literacy, and that the 2026 update of the Guidelines for teachers on tackling disinformation now covers responsible use of social media and influencers. An Education Package to be adopted in 2026 will also focus on digital skills. Additionally, the Commission is preparing an EU-wide inquiry into the broader impact of social media on mental health and wellbeing, especially for children and young people, to inform future debate.
The answer provides no specific numerical targets or deadlines beyond the planned Digital Fairness Act and Education Package in 2026. It largely reaffirms existing commitments and ongoing work, with the Digital Fairness Act representing the most concrete forthcoming legislative measure. The Commission's approach balances consumer protection and child welfare with platform responsibility, while leaving enforcement of existing rules to national authorities. The EU-wide inquiry signals a potential future policy direction on social media's mental health impact.