EU Experts Recommend Social Media Limits for Children Under 13

European Union experts are urging stricter social media rules for children, proposing that those under 13 should only access platforms under adult supervision or at school. The European Commission is expected to introduce legislative proposals on the matter following the summer break.

President Ursula von der Leyen, who commissioned the expert panel, stressed the importance of children having "time in the real world" for play, building friendships, and developing their identity. "This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children," she stated.

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Our children need time ‌in the real world. Time to play, time ‌to build friendships, ‌time to make mistakes. Time to shape their own identity, their own personality, before an algorithm shapes them instead.

The panel's report also advised keeping babies and toddlers away from screens entirely. For children aged three to 12, it recommended only supervised use of "age-appropriate social media" and devices. Teenagers aged 13 to 18 should have "evolving autonomous use" with platforms featuring "key safety features."

While some EU countries have considered national age limits, EU-level action is seen as more effective due to the bloc's authority over major online platforms. Australia's introduction of a social media age limit at the end of 2025 was mentioned as a potential model, though its effectiveness is debated. The EU's Digital Services Act already mandates child-protection measures, but experts believe more robust enforcement is needed, especially following recent findings against Meta for its platforms' addictive design.

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This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children.