The European Union is moving toward some of the world’s toughest restrictions on children’s access to social media, with plans to bar those under 13 from using the platforms and impose parental supervision on younger teenagers.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the proposed age-based approach during her annual State of the Union address in Strasbourg, saying the measures are designed to give children different levels of protection as they grow.
Under the proposed rules, children under 13 would have no access to social media. Those aged 13 and 14 would be allowed only limited “mini accounts”, created and supervised by parents or guardians, with restricted features and a proposed one-hour daily time limit. Teenagers aged 15 to 17 would be covered by mandatory “safe design” requirements on platforms.
Von der Leyen said the EU must recognise that children face different risks at different stages of development, arguing that digital platforms should adapt their safeguards accordingly.
The proposal comes amid growing international concern over the impact of social media on children and teenagers. The European Commission has cited survey findings showing that many young people report stress, sadness or exclusion linked to social media, while excessive screen time has also raised concerns about their wellbeing.
Von der Leyen also referred to the death of a 14-year-old Belgian girl who, according to her mother, had been bullied online. The case has added emotional weight to the EU’s push for stronger safeguards for children in the digital space.
The proposed legislation could go beyond social media. Draft details reported ahead of its formal presentation indicate that online games and AI chatbots may also face additional child-safety requirements, while platforms could be required to eliminate addictive features such as infinite scrolling for younger users.
Platforms that fail to comply could face fines of up to six percent of their annual global turnover, according to draft details. The European Commission is expected to formally unveil the “Kids Act” on Thursday before the proposal moves through the EU’s legislative process.
The initiative marks a major escalation in Europe’s effort to make technology companies more responsible for protecting children online — with Brussels making clear that digital access for minors will increasingly come with age limits, parental controls and stronger safety obligations.
