EU plans social media restrictions for children

The European Union, led by International — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, announced plans to restrict social media access for children under 13 across the 27-member bloc. The proposal follows recommendations from an expert panel co-chaired by Jorg Fegert and Maria Melchior, which advised that children under 13 should only have supervised access, and that platforms must prove their services are safe. The Commission will present a legislative proposal after summer 2026, likely in September. The move is part of a broader global trend, with countries like Australia, the UK, and Indonesia already implementing bans. The EU has also taken enforcement actions against Meta and ByteDance — TikTok Shop under the Digital Services Act for addictive design features. Divisions remain among member states on the appropriate age limit, with France proposing 15, Spain 16, and Estonia opposing a ban. The European Union — European Parliament has called for a ban for under-16s. The Commission is also developing an age verification app.