International Legal Frameworks for Protecting Minors on Social Media

Millions of children face daily risks while using social media platforms worldwide. International legal frameworks often fail to address these evolving digital threats consistently. This research examines how such frameworks protect minors across different jurisdictions today. It aims to identify gaps between children’s rights instruments and platform-specific regulation. The study uses qualitative doctrinal analysis alongside document analysis of legal texts. Scholarly literature and official legal sources were examined systematically for relevant patterns. Results reveal fragmented age verification, inconsistent enforcement, and limited cross-border regulatory cooperation. Algorithmic targeting remains largely unregulated despite documented risks to adolescent wellbeing. Rights instruments rarely translate into specific, enforceable platform obligations across regions. The study recommends binding international standards linking rights language to platform accountability. Coordinated enforcement mechanisms and shared verification technology could strengthen protection. These findings show why fragmented legal approaches cannot protect children online adequately. Stronger international cooperation remains essential for meaningful digital child protection.