EU Commission proposes tighter age limits for children's social media use

EU Commission age limit social media minors Giuseppe Lavenia

The European Commission received a report on the online safety of children and adolescents that recommends a progressive framework for access to digital technologies. The draft suggests a common EU restriction that would forbid children under 13 from using social‑media platforms, while allowing parental consent or educational purposes for limited access. Member states would be free to adopt stricter age thresholds.

Psychologist Giuseppe Lavenia, president of the Italian Association of Technological Dependence, warned that a 13‑year threshold is too low and inadequate. He argued that social media are not toys, citing risks such as cyber‑bullying, sexualisation, digital reputation damage, dependency and algorithmic manipulation, and stressed that parental supervision cannot fully mitigate these dangers.

The Commission will evaluate the report before formulating any legislation, indicating that European policy on minors’ digital exposure is likely to tighten in the coming months.

Entities

Bambino Gesù Hospital · Beatrice Lorenzin · Emmanuel Macron · European Commission · Giuseppe Lavenia · University of Bologna · World Health Organization

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 7 SOURCES] The report proposes a common EU restriction that would forbid children under 13 from using social‑media platforms. www.codirp.it · italiaveranews.it · pugliasera.it · lecodellitorale.it · quotidianodifoggia.it · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Lavenia warns that social media are not toys and pose risks such as cyber‑bullying, sexualisation, digital reputation damage, dependency and algorithmic manipulation. www.codirp.it · italiaveranews.it · pugliasera.it · lecodellitorale.it · quotidianodifoggia.it · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] A report on online safety of children and adolescents was presented to the European Commission. www.codirp.it · italiaveranews.it · pugliasera.it · lecodellitorale.it · quotidianodifoggia.it · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The draft allows parental consent or educational purposes for limited access under the age of 13. www.codirp.it · italiaveranews.it · pugliasera.it · lecodellitorale.it · quotidianodifoggia.it · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Psychologist Giuseppe Lavenia says the proposed 13‑year age limit is too low and insufficient. www.codirp.it · italiaveranews.it · pugliasera.it · lecodellitorale.it · quotidianodifoggia.it · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Member states may adopt stricter age thresholds than the EU‑wide limit. www.codirp.it · italiaveranews.it · pugliasera.it · lecodellitorale.it · quotidianodifoggia.it · +2 more