Where the law stands, Dossier 2025/2081(INI)
Impact of social media and the online environment on young people
Own-initiative report (INI): Parliament’s own position on a topic. It is not binding. · First reading
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands
Parliament’s position
Parliament adopted the text on 17 September 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
- Referred to committee(done) 8 May 2025
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 14 July 2026
- Tabled for plenary(done) 28 August 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 17 September 2026
- Parliament’s position(done) Final
Decided in plenary
17 September 2026 · decision 5
Digital, AI & data, Resolution
Impact of social media and the online environment on young people
Adopted 395 for · 136 against · 80 abstained by a large majority
AI summary:The text calls for a comprehensive European strategy that combines safety by design, algorithmic transparency, privacy-respecting age assurance, digital education and stronger enforcement across existing EU rules.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:The text no longer asks for research data to be broken down by gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, sex characteristics and disability, keeping only a general reference to disaggregated data with privacy safeguards.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Culture and Education
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Sandro Ruotolo (S&D)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Sunčana Glavak (EPP), Annamária Vicsek (Patriots), Lara Magoni (ECR), Hristo Petrov (Renew), Diana Riba I Giner (Greens), Carolina Morace (The Left), Zsuzsanna Borvendég (ESN)
- Committees giving an opinion
- Internal Market and Consumer Protection· rapporteurLaura Ballarín Cereza (S&D)
- Women’s Rights and Gender Equality· rapporteurAnna Strolenberg (Greens)
- Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs· rapporteurKatarina Barley (S&D)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 17 Sept 2026
AI summary:Parliament's resolution on the impact of social media and the online environment on young people sets out an integrated European strategy combining safety and privacy by design, age-appropriate design, algorithmic transparency and privacy-first age verification.
Tabled for plenary· 28 Aug 2026
AI summary:Parliament's resolution on the impact of social media and the online environment on young people sets out an integrated European strategy combining safety and privacy by design, algorithmic transparency and privacy-first age verification.
Committee draft· 10 Sept 2025
AI summary:A draft report by Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education on how social media and the online environment affect young people. It calls for a unified EU strategy combining safety-by-design, algorithmic transparency, privacy-first age assurance, digital literacy, participatory governance and evidence-based evaluation.
Committee opinions: Draft opinion (IMCO), Opinion (IMCO), Draft opinion (LIBE), Draft opinion (FEMM)
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 3 steps
17 September 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 17 Sept 2026 Report A10-0220/2026Adopted text TA10-0313/2026
9 September 2026
3 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
28 August 2026
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 7 steps
14 July 2026
Committee vote: report adopted
CULT (Culture and Education) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
2 March 2026
Committee opinion adopted
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
26 February 2026
Committee opinion adopted
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
26 February 2026
IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
19 November 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of CULT (Culture and Education) proposed changes to the draft.
10 September 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in CULT (Culture and Education). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
8 May 2025
Referred to the CULT (Culture and Education) committee
The lead committee prepares the report; IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection), FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality), LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) give an opinion.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2025/2081(INI)