European Commission to propose EU-wide ban on minors' social media access

The European Commission plans to present a proposal in September that would prohibit children from accessing social‑media platforms across the European Union. The initiative seeks to replace the patchwork of national rules with a single EU framework, although the exact age threshold and enforcement mechanisms have not yet been defined. Options under discussion include mandatory parental consent and technical age‑verification tools, with a specialized expert group expected to deliver recommendations on 13 July.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to unveil the measure during her State of the Union address on 16 September. Several member states – including France, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands (which favours a minimum age of 15) and Ireland, which holds the rotating EU Council presidency – have already signalled support for coordinated restrictions. The proposal also cites Australia’s recent ban on users under 16 as a model, and the United Kingdom’s similar plans, highlighting a broader move toward tighter online safety for children.