European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged to introduce an EU-wide social media ban for children, following a report from an expert panel recommending restrictions for those under 13. The announcement came after the publication of a report on child safety online, which highlighted the dangers of "predatory algorithms" and addictive platform features.
Age-Appropriate Restrictions and Draft Law
"It is clear we need age-appropriate restrictions to platforms," von der Leyen told reporters. "This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children." She promised a draft law in the autumn but declined to specify a minimum age, though she described the panel's "staged approach" to internet use as "very convincing."
The expert panel, co-chaired by German child and adolescent psychiatrist Jörg Fegert and French epidemiologist Maria Melchior, called for an EU-wide delay to "social media plus" for under-13s. This term includes platforms with similar features, such as video games or AI chatbots. The panel suggested member states could opt for higher "precautionary" age restrictions on social media use.
EU Member States' Actions
At least 10 EU countries have announced plans for social media bans for children. France has pledged to ban social media for under-15s, and Spain wants restrictions for under-16s. In Greece, curbs for under-15s will enter into force on 1 January 2027. Estonia stands alone in opposing the measures, arguing for a focus on regulating platforms because children will find ways around bans.
Australia became the first country globally to ban minors from social media, preventing under-16s from accessing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, SnapChat, and TikTok. EU officials also emphasize that the internet should be safe by design. "We do not expect children to design their own seatbelts. We do not expect parents to fit airbags at home," von der Leyen said.
Investigations Against Tech Companies
The European Commission has concluded preliminary indictments against Meta and TikTok in cases that could force changes to the "addictive" nature of their apps. The owner of Facebook and Instagram failed to tackle risks from its addictive design, the commission stated on Friday, having reached a similar conclusion against TikTok in April. Both companies reject the findings, and investigations continue.
In both cases, the EU investigation highlighted features such as infinite scroll, video autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized algorithms as problematic. The experts' recommendation on social media use is predicated on a safe internet. They suggested that from age 13, "adolescents should benefit from evolving autonomous use of age-appropriate and safe social media and other digital services."
Vulnerability and Mental Health Risks
Explaining the reasoning behind the age set for the ban, one expert said ages 10 to 13 represent a "very vulnerable phase" for children, citing US research showing "quite a lot of harm" from social media use at this age, especially among girls concerning body image. "The earlier you start, the higher [impact] the addictive features are," they said.
The expert suggested EU member states could take precautionary restrictions beyond 13, but there is "not a lot of sound data" to determine a cut-off point. "Is it harmful until 14, 15 or 16? There are harmful features also for adults," they noted. A second expert pointed to risks of addictive behaviors and emotional problems until age 25 as the brain continues to develop. "We certainly are not saying that after age 13 children should be using social media plus," they said.
The report also noted that ages 13 to 15 represent "the peak of vulnerability to mental health problems," with heightened sensitivity to social comparison, feedback, and exclusion creating vulnerabilities for social media plus users.
Recommendations for Younger Children
The panel recommended no screen use under age three, except in limited ways such as video calls or viewing family photos. It also raised concerns about AI-enabled toys and voice-based devices for babies and toddlers, as they may stimulate a response "without genuine reciprocity or emotional attunement" from a human carer. For ages three to 12, the group recommended time-limited internet use with a carer or teacher, with supervision gradually decreasing.
The EU draft law will need to be agreed by a weighted majority of European member states and the European Parliament.
