EU experts recommend social media ban for under-13s

A European Union expert commission has recommended implementing a minimum age of 13 for children to use social media platforms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen received the report and announced that the Commission will present a proposal to restrict children's access to these platforms after the summer break.

The expert panel's assessment also considers the possibility of tiered access for older adolescents, suggesting that certain online services could be permitted for users aged 13 and above, with others restricted to ages 15 or 16. These recommendations aim to protect younger users from risks such as addiction, exposure to violent content, and hate speech.

Von der Leyen expressed her intention to outline how these recommendations will be translated into EU law in September. The process will involve the European Commission drafting a legislative proposal, which will then be deliberated by the European Parliament and the Council of the 27 member states. The Commission president has previously criticized major online platforms for making children dependent on their products for profit and has pointed to Australia's ban on social media for under-16s as a potential model.

The expert group convened in March and consulted with scientists, legal experts, and stakeholders from various fields, including child rights, health, and IT. The analysis also incorporated evidence from ongoing proceedings against major online platforms concerning potential violations of EU digital rules. Several EU countries, including Denmark, Spain, and Greece, are already planning their own social media age restrictions.

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There must be a minimum age at which children can register on social media.