EU Proposes Ban on Social Media for Under 13s and Restrictions for Older Children
The European Union is advancing a plan to prohibit social media access for children under 13 across its member states and implement restrictions for teenagers. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced this initiative, stating that individuals under 13 would be barred from social media, and those aged 13 to 15 would not be permitted to have personal accounts. Instead, 13- and 14-year-olds would be allowed 'mini accounts' with parental supervision and limited features, capped at one hour of use per day. This move follows similar actions by individual EU countries and a broader global push to regulate children's social media use, with Australia having already banned social media for under 16s in December 2025. The European Commission is expected to propose a new Kids Act, which would shift the burden of proof to social media platforms, requiring them to demonstrate the safety of their services for minors. Von der Leyen emphasized the EU's power to set rules for technology, asserting that '...
