BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged an EU-wide ban on social media access for children under 13, following recommendations from an expert advisory panel. The proposed restrictions would apply not only to traditional social media platforms but also to other digital services with similar interactive features, and von der Leyen committed to presenting draft legislation in the autumn.

Von der Leyen framed the initiative as a necessary step to protect childhood development in the digital age, citing concerns about addictive design and mental health risks. “This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children,” she said. She added that “it is clear we need age-appropriate restrictions to platforms” and described the expert panel’s “staged approach” to internet use as “very convincing.”

The expert panel, co-chaired by German child and adolescent psychiatrist Jörg Fegert and French epidemiologist Maria Melchior, called for an EU-wide delay to what it termed “social media plus” for children under 13. The phrase refers to digital platforms that share characteristics with social media—such as video games or AI chatbots—that collect user data, deploy algorithms, and encourage prolonged engagement. The panel’s report stated: “Until they demonstrate that their services are safe by design, social media and other digital services providers should have restricted access to children under the age of 13 in the EU.” It also emphasized that “the burden of proof needs to be on providers, not regulators, parents and children.”

Von der Leyen declined to specify a minimum age for the proposed ban, instead endorsing a graduated model aligned with developmental stages. She said children under 13 should only have “time-limited” access under the supervision of parents, teachers, or other caregivers. Teenagers, she added, should be granted gradual access to platforms that can prove they are “age appropriate” and safe. “I believe we need to consider phased and gradual access for different age ranges because childhood won’t wait and once it’s gone, we can never give it back,” she said. In another comparison, she noted: “Just as we don’t give our children keys to the car before they have their license, or we do not let them buy alcohol until they are legally allowed. We need to set the age at which they can, the children can, legally access social media.”

The panel’s recommendations extend beyond social media. For children under three, it advised no screen use except in limited contexts like video calls or viewing family photos. From ages three to 12, it recommended time-limited internet use with adult supervision that gradually diminishes as children mature. The group also raised concerns about AI-enabled toys and voice-based devices for babies and toddlers, warning that such tools may stimulate responses “without genuine reciprocity or emotional attunement” from human caregivers.

Experts on the panel highlighted specific developmental vulnerabilities. One noted that ages 10 to 13 represent a “very vulnerable phase” and cited U.S. research showing “quite a lot of harm” from social media use during this period, particularly among girls in relation to body image. Another expert said, “The earlier you start, the higher [impact] the addictive features are,” while acknowledging there was “not a lot of sound data” to determine a precise age-based cutoff for harm. A second panel member emphasized that brain development continues until around age 25, carrying ongoing risks of addictive behaviors and emotional problems. The report also identified ages 13 to 15 as “the peak of vulnerability to mental health problems,” attributing this to heightened sensitivity to social comparison, feedback, and exclusion.

The European Commission has already taken enforcement action against major platforms. It concluded preliminary indictments against Meta and TikTok, finding that both companies failed to address the risks posed by addictive design features such as infinite scroll, video autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized algorithms. Last week, the Commission warned Meta it must disable such features on Facebook and Instagram or face significant fines, following a finding that the company breached the EU’s Digital Services Act. Earlier this year, EU regulators accused Meta of failing to keep underage users off Instagram. TikTok received a similar conclusion in April. Both companies have rejected the Commission’s findings, and investigations remain ongoing.

Von der Leyen noted infinite scrolling as one of the “addictive” traits tech companies must address. She drew an analogy to physical safety standards, saying: “We do not expect children to design their own seatbelts. We do not expect parents to fit airbags at home.” The Commission is also developing an age verification app that would allow users to prove their age without revealing their identity, potentially supporting future enforcement of digital age restrictions.

While the EU moves toward a unified policy, individual member states have already taken divergent steps. At least 10 EU countries have announced plans for bans on children’s social media use. France has pledged to prohibit access for users under 15, Spain seeks restrictions for those under 16, and Greece will implement curbs for users under 15 effective 1 January 2027. The expert panel suggested governments could adopt even higher “precautionary” age limits if desired. However, Estonia opposes blanket bans, arguing that children will circumvent them and that regulation should focus on platform design instead.

Internationally, the EU’s move aligns with a growing trend. Australia was the first country to enact a comprehensive ban, prohibiting users under 16 from accessing Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Snapchat, and TikTok. The United Kingdom, Turkey, Indonesia, and others have passed similar bans for users under 15 or 16. Despite existing terms of service that prohibit users under 13 on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, enforcement has been inconsistent, prompting calls for stronger legal mandates.

Von der Leyen, a doctor by training, said the Commission will consider the expert report and return with formal proposals “after the summer.” Any resulting draft law would require approval by a weighted majority of EU member states and the European Parliament before taking effect.

Why It Matters

The proposed EU-wide ban represents a significant escalation in digital regulation, shifting responsibility from parents and children to platform operators to prove their services are safe by design. It responds to mounting evidence linking early social media exposure to mental health risks and addictive behaviors, particularly during critical developmental windows. With at least 10 member states already moving toward national bans, the Commission’s initiative seeks to harmonize standards across the bloc while avoiding a fragmented regulatory landscape.

The policy also reflects a broader global shift toward age-based digital restrictions, following Australia’s lead. If enacted, the law could force major platforms to fundamentally alter their design and access protocols for young users. The Commission’s parallel enforcement actions against Meta and TikTok signal that legislative and regulatory efforts will proceed in tandem, increasing pressure on tech companies to redesign features deemed harmful to children.