Experts Recommend EU Ban on Social Media for Children Under 13
A report commissioned by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recommends setting a minimum age of 13 for social media use, and several member states plan to introduce similar bans.
A report commissioned by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was presented in Brussels on Monday, recommending a ban on social media for children under 13.
Several EU member states, including Spain, Greece, Germany, and Austria, are planning to ban minors from using social media up to a certain age. However, any attempt to impose age restrictions on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat will likely require action at the EU level.
Von der Leyen has expressed concerns about the impact of social media on children and tasked an expert group with providing recommendations for protecting young people online. She cited Australia as a potential model, as it became the first country to introduce a ban on social media access for children under 16 at the end of 2025.
The European Commission is expected to propose a regulation on the matter later this year.
