EU Experts Set to Release Recommendations on Regulating Social Media Access for Minors

An expert committee is scheduled to present its recommendations this Monday regarding how the European Union should regulate social media access for children, including the potential implementation of a comprehensive ban. More than 20 nations worldwide, including France, have already enacted or proposed age-based restrictions.

Dozens of international experts have contributed to these recommendations, which will be submitted to the European Commission. The EU’s executive body commissioned the report last year to assist in drafting new regulatory proposals for protecting minors online.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already signaled support for a restrictive approach. During her State of the Union address in September, she remarked, “Just as in my day we as a society taught our children that they could not smoke, drink and watch adult content until a certain age, I believe it is time we consider doing the same for social media.”

Referencing Australia’s ban on social media for those under 16, von der Leyen noted that she is monitoring the policy’s outcome closely to determine the appropriate next steps for Europe. Following discussions with multiple officials, it appears several member states support a ban, and von der Leyen may outline proposed legislation as early as September.

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France is among the EU nations leading the push for stricter social media controls. The French government is seeking to expedite legislation that would prohibit users under 15 from accessing major platforms starting in September. However, the bill faces parliamentary disagreement over whether the ban should apply to all social networks or only those deemed harmful—a distinction the European Commission has warned could conflict with EU law.

As several member states move forward with their own specific laws, the EU faces increasing pressure to establish a unified, consistent regulatory framework.

Italy is also considering a ban for those under 15, while Greece has announced it will introduce restrictions starting in 2027. Austria and Slovenia are preparing legislation to prohibit access for those under 14 and 15, respectively, while Spain and Portugal have proposed a minimum age of 16. Germany, Denmark, and Sweden are also debating age restrictions.

Outside the EU, the UK, Norway, and Canada are among the countries preparing to ban social media for those under 16. Turkey has already passed a ban for under-15s that will take effect later this year.

Australia became the first country to implement age restrictions in December 2025, followed this year by Indonesia and Malaysia.

In China, where the internet is tightly regulated by the state, access to social media for minors has been progressively restricted since 2019. Rather than an outright ban, young users are subject to time limits and curfews.

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