European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has signaled a move toward implementing age restrictions for children using social media platforms. The push for new regulations comes as a special European Union panel issued a report recommending that access be forbidden for children under 13 unless technology companies can definitively prove their platforms are safe for younger users.
As a doctor by training, von der Leyen emphasized the necessity of protecting developing brains from the risks associated with digital platforms. She noted that children under three years old should have no exposure to screens at all. The Commission president compared social media access to other age-restricted activities, stating, "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 policy proposal aims to address specific concerns, including "infinite scrolling" and other addictive traits inherent in digital services. According to the report delivered to the EU chief on Monday, the burden of proof regarding safety must rest with the providers rather than parents, regulators, or the children themselves. The panel also recommended that EU member states consider additional precautionary age restrictions for children over the age of 13.
While specific restrictions beyond the under-13 recommendation were not detailed, von der Leyen indicated that the European Commission will likely develop a proposal for the 27 member countries to consider in the near future. Her policy direction is expected to carry significant weight across the bloc. This move aligns with a growing global trend of restricting youth access to platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, with countries such as Australia, the U.K., Turkey, and Indonesia already implementing similar bans for those under 15 or 16.
Stressing the urgency of the matter, von der Leyen remarked, "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."
The report said that when it comes to safety, “the burden of proof needs to be on providers, not regulators, parents and children.”“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,” said the report, which is likely to influence von der Leyen's thinking.It recommended that “further precautionary age restrictions” should be considered by EU countries for children over 13.
