Bucharest Bans Smartphone Ownership for Teens Under 14, Triggering Global Debate on Child Safety and Digital Rights
In a bold move igniting international controversy, Romania becomes the first EU nation to pass the "Digital Childhood Protection Act," effectively banning teenagers under 14 from owning smartphones until 2028. The law, citing alarming mental health data, forces teens to use simple "feature phones" for calls only. Critics call it a draconian overreach, while early reports from pilot schools in Cluj-Napoca show a 40% drop in cyberbullying and a 22% rise in math scores, sparking copycat proposals across France and Italy.