EU Launches Child Safety Probe Into Snapchat, YouTube, App Stores

It’s the first widespread investigation launched since the European Commission adopted its Guidelines on the Protection of Minors in July.

The icons of various social media apps, including YouTube and Snapchat, as seen on a cell phone. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

The European Union (EU) announced on Oct. 10 that it has opened an investigation into whether popular social media apps Snapchat and YouTube, along with the Apple Pay and Google Play online stores, are properly safeguarding minors from accessing harmful content.

The EU’s executive body, the European Commission, requested that the platforms provide information on their age verification systems, as well as how they block minors from accessing illegal products such as vape pens or drugs, or harmful materials that could promote negative behaviors, such as eating disorders.