European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen announced on Monday that children should have "phased and gradual access" to social media platforms. This policy direction follows recommendations from an expert panel, which advised that children under the age of 13 should only interact with online platforms under strict supervision. The European Union has been actively considering a social media ban, driven by pressure from member states such as Greece and France, who are pushing for restrictions similar to those implemented in Australia.
To ensure that future decisions are grounded in evidence, von der Leyen tasked a panel of experts—comprising doctors, academics, youth representatives, and parents—to provide guidance. Their findings, delivered on Monday, emphasize that the goal is not to debate whether children can access social media, but rather to determine "whether and when social media can access our children." Von der Leyen confirmed that a formal legal proposal will be introduced in the second half of the year, with an indication of the specific restrictions expected as early as September.
The report, co-chaired by child psychiatrist Jorg Fegert and epidemiologist Maria Melchior, provides a framework for the potential EU proposal. The experts recommended that babies and toddlers have no screen time at all, while children aged between three and 12 should only use "age-appropriate social media" and devices under the supervision of parents or teachers. For adolescents aged 13 to 18, the panel advised "evolving autonomous use" of digital platforms that incorporate "key safety features." While major platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram currently set their minimum age at 13, von der Leyen stressed that companies must prove their services do not cause harm, noting that in Europe, developers are held responsible for the safety of their products.
Melchior, speaking alongside von der Leyen, reiterated the conviction that Europe must implement protective measures to ensure the safety of children and adolescents in the digital environment. The EU has already increased pressure on major tech companies, recently ordering Facebook and Instagram to dismantle "addictive" features, following a similar warning issued to TikTok in February. The expert panel did not recommend a blanket ban on digital platforms, a stance that von der Leyen has also declined to support. The panel noted that the Australian ban faced significant implementation challenges, as children frequently found ways to circumvent the limits, prompting the EU to reconsider its strategy.
Instead of a total ban, the EU is focusing on requiring platforms to remove or limit features such as autoplay content, infinite scrolling, and push notifications. EU consumer protection chief Michael McGrath stated that new laws, expected later this year, will provide children with stronger protection against such addictive designs. McGrath emphasized that digital markets are currently designed to capture attention and influence behavior, and the new rules will help ensure that consumers can make informed choices free from manipulation.
Despite these plans, the path to legislation remains complex. The European Parliament previously called for a ban on social media for children under 16, and some lawmakers continue to advocate for this position. EU lawmaker Christel Schaldemose stated that she still believes the age limit should be 15, noting that 13 is already the standard minimum age for most major platforms. Furthermore, the EU faces the challenge of harmonizing rules across 27 member states, as countries like Spain and France have proposed their own age restrictions, while nations such as Estonia remain opposed to a ban. Von der Leyen confirmed that the European Commission will carefully review these national proposals to find a common, harmonized solution.
The European Parliament in October called for a ban on social media for children under the age of 16, a position some EU lawmakers continued to back — although divisions remain over the age.
The EU already has a bolstered armoury to rein in Big Tech and protect users online, and the commission has said more rules are on the way.
