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EU to Set Minimum Age for Social-Media Access, Citing Child-Protection Concerns
The European Union announced on Monday that it will impose a minimum age for young internet users to access social‑media platforms without parental supervision. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the measure is aimed at protecting children from the harms associated with algorithm‑driven social media. The announcement follows a report issued by a panel of experts convened by the Commission last year.
The panel’s report, released on the same day, recommended that minors under 13 years of age should have only “time‑limited” access to social media and that such access should be exercised under parental supervision. The report was the result of a year‑long review of policies designed to mitigate the risks posed by social‑media use among children, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyber‑bullying, and privacy violations.
Von der Leyen said, “It is very clear that we need age‑appropriate restrictions to platforms. This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children.” The statement was made during a briefing in Brussels, where the Commission outlined its next steps for turning the panel’s recommendations into law.
The proposed regulation would be directly enforceable across all 27 EU member states, meaning that platforms would need to implement age‑verification mechanisms that prevent users younger than 13 from creating accounts without a parent or guardian’s consent. The regulation would also require platforms to limit the amount of time children under 13 could spend on social media, although the exact limits are not yet defined.
The EU’s move comes amid a broader push to strengthen online safety. The Digital Services Act, which came into force in 2022, already requires platforms to take action against illegal content and to provide tools for users to block or report harmful material. The new age‑restriction proposal would extend that framework to include a mandatory age‑verification system and parental‑control features.
Other jurisdictions have taken similar steps. In the United Kingdom, the Online Safety Act of 2023 introduced a duty of care for large platforms and required age verification for certain services. Australia passed a ban on social‑media accounts for users under 16 in late 2024, while several EU member states have already introduced national laws that set the minimum age for social‑media use at 13.
The Commission’s proposal is expected to be debated in the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in the coming months. If adopted, it would set a new standard for child protection online and could influence other countries to adopt comparable measures.
Platforms will need to update their user‑registration processes and may face legal challenges related to privacy and data protection. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) already limits the collection of personal data from children under 16, and the new regulation would reinforce those limits by restricting access to the platforms themselves.
The EU’s decision reflects growing concerns about the psychological and social impact of social‑media use on young people. The Commission’s report cited studies linking excessive social‑media use with sleep problems, attention difficulties, and increased risk of mental‑health issues among children.
In the next weeks, the Commission will likely release a draft legislative text for public consultation. The European Parliament will hold hearings with platform representatives and child‑protection experts. The final regulation will need to be approved by both the Parliament and the Council before it can take effect.
The policy is expected to be a significant step in the EU’s ongoing effort to create a safer digital environment for its youngest citizens. The outcome will be closely watched by technology companies, privacy advocates, and parents across the bloc.
The panel’s report, released on the same day, recommended that minors under 13 years of age should have only “time‑limited” access to social media and that such access should be exercised under parental supervision. The report was the result of a year‑long review of policies designed to mitigate the risks posed by social‑media use among children, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyber‑bullying, and privacy violations.
Von der Leyen said, “It is very clear that we need age‑appropriate restrictions to platforms. This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children.” The statement was made during a briefing in Brussels, where the Commission outlined its next steps for turning the panel’s recommendations into law.
The proposed regulation would be directly enforceable across all 27 EU member states, meaning that platforms would need to implement age‑verification mechanisms that prevent users younger than 13 from creating accounts without a parent or guardian’s consent. The regulation would also require platforms to limit the amount of time children under 13 could spend on social media, although the exact limits are not yet defined.
The EU’s move comes amid a broader push to strengthen online safety. The Digital Services Act, which came into force in 2022, already requires platforms to take action against illegal content and to provide tools for users to block or report harmful material. The new age‑restriction proposal would extend that framework to include a mandatory age‑verification system and parental‑control features.
Other jurisdictions have taken similar steps. In the United Kingdom, the Online Safety Act of 2023 introduced a duty of care for large platforms and required age verification for certain services. Australia passed a ban on social‑media accounts for users under 16 in late 2024, while several EU member states have already introduced national laws that set the minimum age for social‑media use at 13.
The Commission’s proposal is expected to be debated in the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in the coming months. If adopted, it would set a new standard for child protection online and could influence other countries to adopt comparable measures.
Platforms will need to update their user‑registration processes and may face legal challenges related to privacy and data protection. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) already limits the collection of personal data from children under 16, and the new regulation would reinforce those limits by restricting access to the platforms themselves.
The EU’s decision reflects growing concerns about the psychological and social impact of social‑media use on young people. The Commission’s report cited studies linking excessive social‑media use with sleep problems, attention difficulties, and increased risk of mental‑health issues among children.
In the next weeks, the Commission will likely release a draft legislative text for public consultation. The European Parliament will hold hearings with platform representatives and child‑protection experts. The final regulation will need to be approved by both the Parliament and the Council before it can take effect.
The policy is expected to be a significant step in the EU’s ongoing effort to create a safer digital environment for its youngest citizens. The outcome will be closely watched by technology companies, privacy advocates, and parents across the bloc.
