EU Commission President backs report recommending social media restrictions for children under 13

The European Union is moving toward sweeping restrictions on children's access to social media, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen endorsing an expert panel's recommendation that children under 13 should only use platforms under adult supervision. The Commission will propose legislation after the summer, von der Leyen confirmed Source: AP News.

The expert recommendations

The special panel on child safety online, co-chaired by child psychiatrist Jörg Fegert and epidemiologist Maria Melchior, recommended a phased approach: no screens at all for children under 3, supervised and time-limited access for those aged 3–13, and gradually autonomous use for teens 13–18 with safety features like limits on infinite scrolling Source: Euronews. The panel defined 'social media plus' as platforms with age-inappropriate features such as autoplay and persistent notifications Source: The Guardian. Notably, the report placed the 'burden of proof' on providers to demonstrate safety before minors can access their services Source: DW.

Political landscape and challenges

At least 10 EU member states have announced plans for national bans, including France (under-15) and Spain (under-16), while Estonia argues for platform regulation instead Source: The Guardian. Australia's under-16 ban, implemented in December 2025, serves as a precedent but has faced criticism over enforceability Source: Engadget. The Commission has already taken action against Meta and TikTok for allegedly addictive designs under the Digital Services Act Source: The Verge. Meanwhile, TikTok's policy chief defended its 'safety by design' approach Source: CNBC. Critics, including digital rights groups, favor targeting harmful design rather than age bans Source: The Next Web.

What's next

The Commission will review the report and present a legislative proposal 'after the summer,' which will require approval from the European Parliament and all 27 member states Source: AP News. Age verification remains a key challenge, with the EU developing an open-source age-verification app Source: Euronews.