Brussels, Belgium: European Union plans tighter online protections for children, limiting social media access and requiring stronger platform safeguards
The European Union has announced plans to introduce new restrictions on social media access for children under 15, as Brussels seeks to strengthen online safety and address concerns about children’s exposure to harmful or addictive digital environments.
The proposed measures would establish a gradual system based on age, with children under 13 prevented from accessing social media platforms. Teenagers aged 13 to 15 would face tighter conditions, including limited access through accounts connected to a parent or guardian.
Under the proposal, those aged between 13 and 15 would reportedly be limited to one hour of social media use each day through so-called “mini accounts”. Children aged 15 and above would be permitted to create their own accounts.
The European Commission says the approach would extend beyond major social networks such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. Video-sharing services, online games and AI chatbots could also fall within the wider child-safety framework.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the initiative would put parents “back in the driving seat”, giving families additional tools to manage children’s online experiences and navigate what officials describe as an increasingly complex digital environment.
The legislation, known as the EU Kids Act, would also place significant responsibilities on technology companies. Platforms would be expected to demonstrate that their services are safe by design, with companies potentially facing fines of up to 6% of global sales.
Von der Leyen told the European Parliament that establishing an age threshold would not remove technology companies’ responsibilities for content and platform design. Companies would instead have to provide detailed plans explaining how they intend to protect children.
The proposed framework would require platforms to follow the principle of safety by design for users under 18. Officials have indicated that this could involve restrictions on potentially addictive or manipulative features and stronger safeguards against harmful online experiences.
The Commission’s proposal comes as European institutions have increasingly focused on the relationship between children and digital platforms. Parliament has separately backed measures calling for a safer online environment and greater protection for young people.
European lawmakers have previously debated a higher minimum age. In November 2025, the European Parliament backed a non-legislative report supporting a harmonised minimum age of 16 for social media, video-sharing platforms and AI companions, while allowing younger teenagers access with parental consent.
The latest Commission proposal therefore enters an already active European debate over how age restrictions should operate. Different member states have been considering their own measures, creating pressure for a common approach across the European Union.
France and Spain are among the countries that have considered restrictions on children’s social media use. Under the proposed EU-wide framework, a binding regulation would take precedence over conflicting national measures once it enters into force.
However, the proposal still faces a lengthy legislative process before becoming law. EU member states and the European Parliament will need to agree on the final text, while negotiations could alter the age thresholds, enforcement mechanisms or other provisions.
Enforcement is expected to be one of the most complicated aspects of the plan. Authorities would need reliable methods for determining users’ ages while ensuring that children are not subjected to excessive collection or processing of personal information.
The European Commission has indicated that age verification could be carried out through an existing European age-verification application. Officials say the proposed system would be designed so that personal information would not be collected or shared unnecessarily.
Privacy campaigners and other critics have nevertheless raised concerns about age verification. They argue that requiring teenagers to establish their age before accessing online services could create new privacy and data-protection risks, particularly if systems are poorly designed.
France illustrates some of the legal difficulties surrounding restrictions. The Macron government previously prepared legislation aimed at preventing under-15s from accessing social media, but the country’s top court blocked the measure, citing concerns surrounding freedom of expression.
French ministers subsequently amended their approach, highlighting how national constitutional requirements and legal challenges could influence the implementation of child-safety measures. Similar debates could emerge elsewhere if the EU proposal moves toward binding legislation.
The Commission says its approach is supported by evidence examining children’s online experiences and the potential risks associated with digital platforms. EU survey data cited by officials found that 92% of respondents regarded stronger online protection for children as a policy priority.
Concerns have also focused on platform design. In July, European authorities said Meta should change what they described as potentially addictive elements on Facebook and Instagram or risk substantial penalties, citing features including infinite scrolling, autoplay and personalised recommendations.
Meta has disputed those preliminary findings, saying they did not fully reflect measures the company had introduced to protect teenagers. The disagreement demonstrates the broader challenge facing regulators as governments attempt to define appropriate platform responsibilities without unnecessarily restricting legitimate online activity.
The European Commission has also examined developments outside Europe. Von der Leyen said officials had looked at Australia, where social media restrictions for under-16s were introduced, although enforcement there has remained challenging and authorities have acknowledged that children continue to access restricted platforms.
Australia’s experience has therefore become part of the international discussion surrounding age-based digital restrictions. The European Union will need to consider questions including enforcement, verification, platform compliance and how children might respond when access restrictions are introduced.
The proposed EU rules also arrive as Britain prepares separate restrictions for children. A similar under-16 social media measure is scheduled to come into force in the United Kingdom next spring, adding to a growing international debate over children’s access to major digital platforms.
For technology companies, the proposed legislation could represent a substantial change in their obligations toward younger users. Platforms would not simply be expected to prevent underage accounts; they could also have to demonstrate that their services are fundamentally designed with child safety in mind.
The proposal now moves into negotiations involving EU institutions and member states, where significant details remain unresolved. Questions surrounding age thresholds, parental consent, verification technology, enforcement and fundamental rights are likely to shape the final legislation.
If approved, the EU Kids Act would establish one of the most extensive regional frameworks for regulating children’s online access. Its implementation could also influence technology regulation beyond Europe as governments elsewhere examine similar measures to address concerns about children’s digital wellbeing.
For families, the practical impact would depend on the final rules and how platforms implement them. For technology companies, however, the direction is clear: European policymakers are seeking stronger safeguards, greater parental involvement and increased accountability for services used by children.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members