European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans to introduce tighter restrictions on children’s access to social media, including a proposed ban on social-media accounts for children under the age of 13.
Under the proposed measures, teenagers aged 13 to 15 would instead be allowed to use specially designed “mini accounts” with limited features and parental supervision.
The initiative is part of the European Union’s wider efforts to make the digital environment safer for children and reduce the potential harm associated with unrestricted access to social-media platforms.
Von der Leyen said the debate should focus not only on when children are allowed to use social media, but also on how platforms interact with young users.
“This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children,” she said.
The EU’s proposal comes amid growing concerns about children’s exposure to harmful online content, cyberbullying, inappropriate contact with strangers, online grooming and platform features that can encourage excessive or compulsive use.
The proposed “mini accounts” for 13- to 15-year-olds are intended to provide a more controlled introduction to social media.
Parents would have greater oversight, while some features available on standard accounts could be restricted or disabled.
The EU is also looking at measures that would require technology companies to strengthen protections for young users.
These could include stronger age-verification systems, private-by-default accounts for minors, restrictions on strangers contacting children and limits on features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay that can encourage users to remain online for longer periods.
The measures are designed to shift more responsibility towards social-media companies, ensuring that children’s safety is incorporated into the design of digital platforms rather than leaving parents to manage the risks on their own.
The EU hopes the initiative will reduce children’s exposure to harmful content and online exploitation while promoting healthier and more age-appropriate use of digital platforms.
It also seeks to give parents greater control over their children’s online experiences.
However, the proposal still has to go through the EU legislative process, meaning the final rules and age limits could change as European lawmakers and member states debate the details.
The initiative adds to a growing international discussion over how governments can protect children from online risks while ensuring that young people continue to benefit from digital communication, education and access to information.
