Ursula von der Leyen to propose EU social media restrictions for minors

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans to introduce measures to protect minors online, which may include banning children and adolescents from accessing social media platforms. In a video message shared on X, von der Leyen stated, “We must not accept the addictive potential of social networks” and criticized the way children are pushed toward increasingly extreme content.

The official proposals are expected to be presented during her speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on September 16. According to European sources, the Commission is considering a ban for minors under the age of 15, while potentially allowing access for those aged 13 to 15 with parental consent.

The initiative faces legal scrutiny; the Constitutional Council of France recently ruled a similar summer proposal to ban social media for children under 15 unconstitutional, raising questions about the feasibility of a pan-European mandate. However, French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the Commission to proceed with the ban to protect all children within the Union.