EU considers age limits and safety tests for teen social media use
The European Commission may propose rules after summer based on expert advice on children’s access to screens, the internet and social platforms.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
2 min read
The European Union is considering new limits on children’s and teenagers’ access to social media, The Verge reported, in a step that could reshape how major platforms serve young users across the bloc. The measures under review include age thresholds, staged access and a possible ban for some users, while platforms could be required to show their services are safe for minors.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Commission could bring forward legislation within months after studying recommendations from an expert panel, according to The Verge. She said the EU needs age-appropriate platform limits and framed the issue as one of when social media should be allowed to reach children.
Panel backs phased access
The expert panel recommended a graduated approach to children’s use of digital services, The Verge reported. Its proposals include no screen use for children younger than 3, supervised internet access for those under 13 and additional restrictions for older teenagers.
The panel also recommended shifting more responsibility onto social media companies, according to the report. Under that approach, platforms would need to demonstrate that their products are not harmful before younger users could use them, a position von der Leyen said she supports.
Von der Leyen said the Commission will review the panel’s work and return with proposals “after the summer,” The Verge reported. Any EU-wide law would still require approval from the European Parliament and the bloc’s 27 member countries.
Pressure builds on platforms
A formal Commission proposal would add to growing international efforts to restrict social media use by children, according to The Verge. The report cited the UK and Australia among countries with proposals or active regulations aimed at limiting minors’ access to online platforms.
New EU rules would also increase pressure on platforms to prove they are safe for younger users, The Verge reported. The EU has already used its Digital Services Act to scrutinize major social media companies over design features regulators view as harmful.
According to The Verge, a preliminary EU investigation last week found Meta in breach of the Digital Services Act over the “addictive” design of Facebook and Instagram. The report said TikTok faced a similar finding earlier this year.
The Commission has not yet introduced a bill, and the details could change before any formal proposal reaches lawmakers. But von der Leyen’s comments signal that youth access to social media is now a live legislative issue at the EU level, with platform safety obligations likely to be central to the debate.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.