EU weighs tougher age rules for children's social media access, backs 'phased and gradual access'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday called for limits to be placed on children's use of social media as a special EU panel examining online child safety recommended banning access for those under the age of 13 until technology companies can prove their platforms are safe.

The proposal comes amid a growing global push to shield children from the potential harms of social media. Countries including Australia, the UK, Turkey and Indonesia have introduced or proposed restrictions preventing children under the ages of 15 or 16 from accessing platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

Von der Leyen, a doctor by training, outlined a series of concerns about children's exposure to digital platforms. She said children under the age of three should have no exposure to screens at all, while older children should be introduced to social media only in a gradual and supervised manner.

More from Tech

The European Commission has also been stepping up regulatory pressure on major technology companies. Last week, it warned Meta under the Digital Services Act (DSA) that it must address addictive design features, such as infinite scrolling, or risk facing substantial fines.

Von der Leyen said there should be "phased and gradual access for different age ranges" to social media. She suggested that children under 13 should only be allowed time-limited access under the supervision of parents, teachers or other caregivers.

Teenagers, she added, should receive gradual access to platforms only after companies demonstrate that their services are age-appropriate and safe for younger users.

Special panel calls for stricter child safety measures

A special panel established to examine online child safety published its report on Monday, arguing that the responsibility for protecting children should rest with technology companies rather than parents or regulators.

"The burden of proof needs to be on providers, not regulators, parents and children," the report said.

It further recommended that social media and other digital service providers should restrict access for children under the age of 13 across the European Union until they can demonstrate that their services are safe by design. The findings are expected to influence the European Commission's future policy on online child safety.

The panel also recommended that EU member states consider introducing additional age-based restrictions for children over 13.

Most major social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok, already prohibit users under the age of 13 from creating accounts. However, these safeguards have long been criticised for being easy to bypass.

To strengthen enforcement, the European Commission is developing its own age verification app, which would allow users to securely verify their age before registering for online services.