European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that the European Union is working towards prohibiting social media usage for children under the age of 13, while also introducing restrictions on technology and artificial intelligence services for older minors. The statement was made during her annual address to the European Parliament, marking a significant step in the bloc's digital regulation efforts.
"Social media will be banned for those under 13, and children under 15 will not be allowed to open independent personal accounts," von der Leyen stated. She further clarified that teenagers aged 13 to 14 would be permitted to register accounts under parental supervision, though these accounts would come with limited functionality and features.
The announcement comes just one day before the European Commission is set to formally present its new legislative proposal, the EU Kids Act, which aims to establish a comprehensive framework for child safety in the digital space. According to reports, the draft law would mandate strict age verification mechanisms and entry barriers across a wide range of platforms, including social media networks, video-sharing services, app stores, online gaming platforms, AI companion programs, and conversational AI chatbots.
Under the proposed legislation, companies that fail to comply with these requirements could face fines of up to 6% of their annual global revenue, a penalty structure that mirrors the stringent enforcement measures seen in other EU digital regulations such as the Digital Services Act.
The push for EU-wide legislation comes amid growing pressure from member states, who have been increasingly vocal about the need to protect children from the potential harms of social media. Following Australia's implementation of similar restrictions last year, several EU member nations had already begun exploring their own national-level policies, prompting calls for a unified approach across the bloc.
However, the EU Kids Act proposal still requires approval from both EU governments and members of the European Parliament, and the full legislative process could potentially span several years before the rules take effect.
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