- The European Union will impose a minimum age for young internet users to access social media without parental supervision, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Monday.
- The expert panel recommended that minors under 13 years of age should only have "time-limited" access to social media and with parental supervision.
- Von der Leyen expressed conviction in the case for age restrictions, stating, "It is very clear that we need age-appropriate restrictions to platforms."
- The EU Commission plans to propose legislation after summer, with von der Leyen promising a draft law in the autumn.
- Von der Leyen suggested parents should have control over social media age limits, stating that children should only be exposed to social media under the supervision of parents or caregivers.
- The panel called for an EU-wide delay to "social media plus" for under-13s, which includes platforms like video games and AI chatbots.
- Social media platforms already limit access to users under 13 because they cannot consent to have their data processed according to EU privacy rules.
The European Commission is set to introduce age restrictions for social media access, particularly targeting users under 13. President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for parental supervision and a phased approach to internet use, stating, "Childhood won't wait, and once it's gone, we can never give it back."135
The proposed regulations stem from a report recommending that children under 13 should have "time-limited" access to social media, with parental oversight. Von der Leyen highlighted the dangers of "predatory algorithms" and the need for technology companies to take responsibility for user safety. "Social media is not a toy," she warned, stressing that unrestricted access could lead to mental harm and addiction among children.
The panel of experts, co-chaired by Jörg Fegert and Maria Melchior, called for a gradual introduction of technology, recommending no screen time for children under three and limited use for ages three to twelve. "The earlier you start, the higher [impact] the addictive features are," one expert noted, citing research on the negative effects of social media on young users, particularly girls.6
The Commission plans to review these recommendations and draft legislation by autumn, with at least 10 EU countries already considering similar bans. Von der Leyen stated, "In Europe, whoever develops a product is responsible for its safety."
“The panel recommended no screen use under 3 and time-limited supervised access for ages 3-12, with von der Leyen calling the evidence 'most convincing'. Separately, a wildfire tore through Fontainebleau forest, forcing 800 evacuations and closure of the A6 highway, as 26 million people in France remain under red heatwave warning.”
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