Ctrl+Alt+Reclaim
We want to promote digital regulations integrating the interest of young European citizens.
ID: 231511097255-40
Lobbying Activity
Response to Digital Fairness Act
24 Oct 2025
Ctrl+alt+reclaim welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions Public Consultation on the Digital Fairness Act (DFA) impact assessment. As Europes first youthled tech justice and digital rights movement, we represent a generation that has grown up online, and one that continues to bear the brunt of the social and psychological harms linked to exploitative digital design. In the EU, one in five of young people experience mental health struggles and half reported that they had unmet needs when it came to their mental wellbeing, especially related to depression and anxiety (European Parliamentary Research Service). Across Europe, this widespread generational struggle has been named a silent crisis - and numerous studies correlate this mental health crisis to our use of social media. According to the WHO, the problematic social media use has climbed from 7% to 11% in just four years, with higher rates among girls. Whistleblower Frances Haugen disclosed internal documents demonstrating that Meta knew its products harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy. Despite these revelations, insufficient progress has been made to protect young users or address the structural causes behind these harms. We believe that this consultation represents an important opportunity to shift from a culture of reaction to one of prevention. The DFA has the potential to address the root causes of unsafe online environments that disproportionately affect young people across Europe. From addictive design practices, dark patterns, targeted advertising to systemic design and data practices that distort user choice and erode trust - we demand that young peoples concerns, problems and challenges are genuinely addressed in the upcoming Digital Fairness Act through direct consultation and inclusion throughout the policymaking process. For further details, please refer to our attached position paper.
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