EU Moves Toward Social Media Ban for Under-13s, Supervised Access for Teens Under 15

The European Union is moving toward tougher rules governing children’s access to social media, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing plans for a minimum age of 13 and tighter restrictions for teenagers under 15.

The proposed measures, outlined by von der Leyen during her State of the Union address on Wednesday, would introduce a graduated approach to children’s access to digital platforms. Under the plan, children below 13 would not be allowed to use social media, while those aged 13 to 14 could access supervised “mini accounts” with limited features and time restrictions.

For teenagers between 15 and 18, platforms would be required to implement stronger “safe design” measures aimed at reducing exposure to addictive features and potentially harmful content.

The proposals are part of the broader EU Kids Act, which is being developed as European policymakers seek stronger safeguards for children online.

Earlier reporting by Reuters, based on a European Commission document, indicated that the planned framework could extend beyond social media to include video-sharing platforms, online games and AI chatbots. The draft described different levels of access depending on a child’s age, together with stronger parental controls and age-verification requirements.

Under the earlier draft, children aged 3 to 12 could use parent-controlled, child-friendly services, while those aged 13 and 14 could receive introductory accounts under strict parental supervision. From age 15, teenagers would be able to establish their own accounts under the proposed framework.

In her address, von der Leyen said children aged 13 to under 15 would be restricted to supervised mini accounts with limited features and a time restriction of one hour a day. She also said that between 15 and 18, platforms would have to comply with safe-design requirements.

The EU’s approach reflects growing international concern about the effects of social media and digital platforms on children. Australia has already introduced restrictions preventing people under 16 from holding accounts on covered social-media platforms.

The proposed EU framework would place greater responsibility on technology companies. Platforms could face requirements to verify users’ ages, provide parental-control tools, enable children to report harmful content and avoid design features that encourage excessive or addictive use.

However, the announcement does not mean that the new restrictions are already EU law. The European Commission must formally present the legislation, after which it would need to go through negotiations involving EU member states and the European Parliament before becoming legally binding.

The final requirements, enforcement mechanisms and implementation timetable could therefore change during the legislative process.

The proposals represent a significant step in the EU’s ongoing effort to strengthen protections for children online while placing greater responsibility on technology companies to create safer digital environments.

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