The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has pledged an EU-wide social media ban for children after an expert group called for restrictions for those under 13.
“It is clear we need age-appropriate restrictions to platforms,” von der Leyen told reporters after the publication of a report on child safety online.
“This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children,” she said, also referring to “predatory algorithms.”
Promising a draft law in the autumn, she declined to specify a minimum age but said she found the panel’s “staged approach” to internet use “very convincing.”
The Expert Panel’s Recommendations
The panel, co-chaired by German child psychiatrist Jörg Fegert and French epidemiologist Maria Melchior, called for an EU-wide delay to “social media plus” for under-13s. “Social media plus” refers to platforms that use similar features, such as video games or AI chatbots.
The experts recommended several remedies, including:
- No screen use under 3, except for limited purposes like video calls or family photos.
- Ages 3 to 12: Time-limited internet use with a carer or teacher, with supervision gradually decreasing.
- Ages 13 and up: “Adolescents should benefit from evolving autonomous use of age-appropriate and safe social media.”
The panel 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.
Why 13?
One expert explained that ages 10 to 13 are a “very vulnerable phase” for children, and US research has shown “quite a lot of harm” from social media use at this age, especially among girls around body image. “The earlier you start, the higher [impact] the addictive features are,” they said.
Another expert noted a risk 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 users.
EU Action Against Tech Giants
The European Commission has already concluded preliminary indictments against Meta and TikTok in cases that could force the companies to change the “addictive” nature of their apps. Meta failed to tackle the risks of its addictive design on users, the commission said on Friday, having reached a similar conclusion against TikTok in April.
Both companies have rejected the commission’s findings, and investigations continue. The EU investigations highlighted features such as infinite scroll, video autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized algorithms as problematic.
Country-Level Bans
At least 10 EU countries have announced plans for bans on 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 is a lone voice against the measures, arguing for a focus on regulating platforms because children will find a way around any bans.
Australia was the first country in the world to ban minors from social media, preventing under-16s from accessing Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Snapchat, and TikTok.
The Bottom Line
The EU chief has pledged an EU-wide social media ban for children under 13, following expert recommendations. The proposed law would protect children from “predatory algorithms” and addictive platform design. At least 10 EU countries have already announced plans for bans. The European Commission has also opened cases against Meta and TikTok over their addictive features. A draft law is expected in the autumn.
