BRUSSELS — A senior European Union official proposed on Monday implementing age restrictions for children using social media, following a report from an EU panel that recommended barring access under 13 until companies can substantiate platform safety.
Growing concerns about social media’s impact on young minds have prompted global regulatory action, with countries like Australia, the U.K., Turkey, and Indonesia enacting bans for users under 15 or 16 on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a medical doctor, emphasized that children under 3 should have no screen exposure. She advocated for phased access based on age, stating, “We need to set the age at which they can, the children can, legally access social media”—analogous to restrictions on driving or alcohol.
Von der Leyen highlighted “infinite scrolling” as an exploitative feature requiring tech companies to address. While no specific age thresholds were outlined, the European Commission is expected to propose legislation for member states to review soon.
The EU’s child safety panel delivered a report urging a “burden of proof” shift to digital service providers: “Until they demonstrate their services are safe by design, social media and digital platforms should restrict access to children under 13 in the EU,” the report advised, with additional age-based restrictions likely to follow.
