The European Commission is moving to prohibit children under 13 from accessing social media platforms across the European Union. At the same time, authorities are restricting teenagers aged 13 to 15 to supervised accounts equipped with daily time limits.
Brussels Targets Under-13s with EU-Wide Ban
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the regulatory framework during her State of the Union address in Strasbourg.
The European Child Act Framework
The proposed legislation forms part of a broader European Child Act. Its goal is to establish unified rules across all 27 member states.
Under the plan detailed by the Commission, children under 13 face a complete ban on accessing social media services. Adolescents between 13 and 15 would be permitted introductory accounts only with parental authorization and supervision. These accounts would feature strict functional limitations and a mandatory cap of one hour per day.
Full personal accounts would become available at age 15. Even then, platforms would remain bound by heightened safety requirements until users reach the age of majority.
Rising Screen Time and Mental Health Alarm
The initiative arrives amid growing alarm from families over mounting screen time and emotional distress among youth.
Data from a Eurobarometer study indicates that European adolescents spend an average of 4.5 hours daily on screens during school days. That figure climbs to 6.1 hours on weekends, with 14 percent of respondents reporting screen times exceeding ten hours per day.
Furthermore, World Health Organization data noted that problematic social media use among adolescents rose from 7 percent in 2018 to 11 percent in 2022. This tracked alongside increases in sleep disruption, anxiety, and self-harm.
Standardized Age Verification Tech
To enforce the age boundaries, the European Commission is developing a standardized European age verification system.
This infrastructure is designed to confirm whether a user meets the statutory age requirements without compelling individuals to surrender sensitive personal data to commercial platforms. By shifting the burden of proof, the proposed rules would require technology companies to demonstrate that their systems are fundamentally safe for young users, targeting algorithmic amplification, addictive design features, and unwanted contacts.
Next Steps in the European Parliament
The legislative proposal follows international precedents, including strict access limits enacted in Australia. It also draws on consultations with youth panels and expert groups.
European officials highlighted the human toll of unregulated digital spaces, referencing cases of severe online harassment and youth mental health crises.
Now, the measure will undergo formal review, negotiation, and debate within the European Parliament and among member state governments before it can be enacted into binding Community law.
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