EU to limit children's access to social media — gradually
Children should have “phased and gradual access” to social media, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, as experts recommended under 13s only use online platforms under supervision. The European Union has been mulling a social media ban since a push...
BRUSSELS — The European Union is moving toward age-based limits on children’s use of social media, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying access should be “phased and gradual” rather than open-ended.
Speaking on Monday after an expert panel submitted its recommendations, von der Leyen said the bloc should set a clear starting age for when children can join social platforms and introduce “age-appropriate restrictions.” She framed the debate as one of when social media should be allowed to reach children, rather than whether children should be allowed online at all.
The panel, assembled by von der Leyen to inform the EU’s next steps, included doctors, academics, youth representatives and parents. Its recommendations suggest no screens for babies and toddlers, supervised use of age-appropriate social media and devices for children aged three to 12, and a more independent but still protected form of use for teenagers aged 13 to 18. The report also points to the need for safety features on digital platforms used by younger users.
Von der Leyen said children should only be allowed access to “safe” platforms from age 13 onward, while emphasizing that platforms themselves must prove they do not harm users. She said responsibility for safety should rest with the companies that design and develop digital products.
The Commission is expected to present a legal proposal in the second half of the year, with an indication of the likely shape of the rules expected in September. Any plan would still need agreement from EU lawmakers and member states, where views remain divided on the appropriate minimum age.
The discussion has gained momentum in recent months as several EU countries pushed for tighter limits on children’s access to social media. Greece and France have been among the states pressing for action, while Australia’s approach has also fueled debate over whether the EU should consider a bloc-wide ban or a different model.
The expert report did not endorse a blanket ban on social media. Instead, it focused on reducing features seen as harmful, including autoplay, endless scrolling and push notifications. The panel said the Australian ban had shown enforcement challenges, as children found ways around restrictions, prompting a more measured approach in Europe.
The EU is also stepping up pressure on major platforms to alter product design. The Commission recently told Facebook and Instagram to dismantle what it described as addictive features, following a similar warning to TikTok earlier this year. The wider push reflects a growing concern in Brussels over how digital services are designed to capture attention and shape behavior.
The European Parliament has already called for a ban on social media for children under 16, though that position does not command full consensus across the bloc. Some lawmakers continue to argue for a higher minimum age, while others back the 13-plus threshold used by many platforms today.
A key challenge for the Commission will be harmonizing rules across the EU’s 27 member states, some of which already have their own proposals. Spain wants to bar access to social networks for under-16s, France has proposed a 15-and-under limit, and countries such as Estonia have opposed a ban.
For now, Brussels appears focused on building a common framework that would balance child protection with the realities of how young people already use digital platforms. The article is based on a monitored public feed and is attributed to Dawn Tech.
Source: Dawn Tech - https://www.dawn.com/news/2015146/eu-to-limit-childrens-access-to-social-media-gradually
