Ursula von der Leyen pledges EU-wide social media ban for children

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has pledged an EU-wide social media ban for children after an expert group called for restrictions for under-13s.

“It is clear we need age-appropriate restrictions to platforms,” von der Leyen told reporters after the publication of a report on child safety online.

“This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children,” she said in remarks that also referred to “predatory algorithms”.

Promising a draft law in the autumn, she declined to specify a minimum age, but said she found the panel’s “staged approach” to internet use – recommendations by age group - “very convincing”.

The panel, co-chaired by the German child and adolescent psychiatrist Jörg Fegert and the French epidemiologist Maria Melchior, called for an EU-wide delay to “social media plus” for under-13s. “Social media plus” refers to other platforms that use similar features, such as video games or AI chatbots.

It suggested governments of member states may opt for higher “precautionary” age restrictions on social media use.

At least ten EU countries have announced plans for bans for children. France has pledged to ban social media for under-15s, and Spain wants restrictions for under-16s. In Greece, curbs for under-15s will enter into force on 1 January 2027.

Estonia is a lone voice against the measures, arguing for a focus on regulating platforms because children will find a way around any bans.

Australia was the first country in the world to ban minors from social media, a policy that in theory at least prevents under-16s from accessing the likes of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, SnapChat and TikTok.

EU officials also say the internet should be safe by design. “We do not expect children to design their own seatbelts. We do not expect parents to fit airbags at home,” von der Leyen said.

The commission has already concluded preliminary indictments against Meta and TikTok in cases that could force the companies to change the “addictive” nature of their apps. The owner of Facebook and Instagram had failed to tackle the risks of its addictive design on users, the commission said on Friday, having reached a similar conclusion against TikTok in April.

Both companies have rejected the commission’s findings, and investigations continue.

In both cases the EU investigation highlighted features such as infinite scroll, video autoplay, push notifications and highly-personalised algorithms to feed users content as problematic.

The experts recommendation on social media use is predicated on a safe internet. It said from 13, “adolescents should benefit from evolving autonomous use of age-appropriate and safe social media and other digital services”.

Explaining the reasoning behind the age set for the ban, one expert said 10 to 13 was a “very vulnerable phase” for children, and that US research had shown “quite a lot of harm” from social media use at this age, especially among girls around body image. “The earlier you start, the higher [impact] the addictive features are,” they said.

The expert suggested EU member states may take precautionary restrictions on social media beyond 13, but there was “not a lot of sound data” to determine a cut-off point. “Is it harmful until 14, 15 or 16? There are harmful features also for adults,” they said.

A second expert noted a risk of addictive behaviours and emotional problems until 25 as the brain continues to develop. “We certainly are not saying that after age 13 children should be using social media plus,” they said.

The report also notes that age 13 to 15 represents “the peak of vulnerability to mental health problems” and that heightened sensitivity to social comparison, feedback and exclusion created vulnerabilities for social media plus users.

The group recommends no screen use under three, except in limited ways such as video calls or looking at family photos. It also raises concerns about the use of AI-enabled toys and voice-based devices for babies and toddlers, because they may stimulate a response “without genuine reciprocity or emotional attunement” that comes from a human carer.

For ages three to 12, the group recommend time-limited use of the internet with a carer or teacher, with supervision gradually decreasing.

The EU draft law will have to be agreed by a weighted majority of European member states and the European parliament.