The European Union unveiled proposals to limit social‑media usage for anyone under 16 across all member countries, aiming to boost wellbeing and improve online safety.
The proposal calls for a phased rollout, with an outright ban on social‑media access for children younger than 13.
Teenagers aged 13‑15 would be permitted to use social media for no more than one hour each day through specially created “mini accounts” linked to a parent or guardian’s profile.
The European Commission stressed that platforms must demonstrate built‑in safety, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added that the measure would “return control to parents.”
She noted that the forthcoming EU Kids Act would equip parents with the resources needed to guide their children toward safer online experiences.
Under the legislation, only youths aged 15 and older would be allowed to create independent social‑media profiles.
Von der Leyen had previously floated the idea of delaying social‑media exposure for European youths, remarking in May that the debate over a minimum age could no longer be postponed.
The initiative was formally presented on Thursday and had been previewed the day before in von der Leyen’s annual address to the European Parliament.
Several member states, notably France and Spain, have already unveiled their own national measures to curb children’s social‑media use.
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