EU to Propose Minimum Age for Social Media Access for Minors

The European Commission will propose legislation after the summer to establish a minimum age for social media access, based on recommendations from an expert panel. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that children need "time in the real world" and that the burden of safety should fall on tech companies.

Proposed Restrictions

• The expert report recommends restricting access for children under 13, allowing only supervised use with limited time and age-appropriate content Source: Euronews, Infobae.
• For ages 13-15, parental control should be reduced, and for 16-18, autonomous use is suggested Source: Infobae.
• The Commission is developing an age verification app that uses official ID to confirm age without revealing personal data Source: Euronews.

Diverging Views Among Member States

While the Commission seeks harmonisation, at least 14 member states already favour prohibiting social media below a certain age, with some like Spain and France pushing for stricter bans Source: El Confidencial. The report acknowledges that national governments may set different thresholds Source: ABC. Von der Leyen emphasised that the proposal is not about banning children from social media, but about "when social media can access our children" Source: El Español.

Responsibility on Tech Giants

Von der Leyen argued that tech companies should be responsible for proving their services are safe, comparing them to car manufacturers Source: ABC, El Confidencial. The EU is already investigating platforms like Instagram and Facebook under the Digital Services Act for addictive design Source: El Confidencial.

Fact Check: No 'Internet Passport'

Misleading claims about an EU "internet passport" and VPN bans have been debunked. The age verification app is solely for age checks, not general internet access Source: Euronews.