EU moves to restrict social media for children under 13

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU will introduce legislation after the summer to limit children’s access to social‑media platforms. A panel of experts recommended a tiered approach: children under three should have no screen time; ages 3‑12 may use “age‑appropriate” platforms only under parental or school supervision; those aged 13‑18 could gain progressively more autonomous access if platforms meet safety‑by‑design standards, such as disabling infinite scroll and autoplay.

The proposal will be presented in September and will rely on the Digital Services Act to require platforms – including Meta, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube – to prove their services are safe for minors or face fines. An EU‑wide age‑verification app is being piloted, and several member states already have national restrictions. The measures aim to curb addictive design, protect children’s mental health, and shift responsibility for safety onto tech companies rather than parents alone.