Today, the President of the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, announced plans for the EU to restrict social media platforms and other “digital services” for children under 13.
The statement comes in tandem with the publication of a report on online child safety, in which members of a special panel recommend this EU-wide ban. Additionally, the report recommends more age-assurance and safety measures for social media and other digital services such as AI companions, video-sharing platforms, and video games.
In her statement, von der Leyen made three points. The first is that social platforms “must prove that their services do no harm,” as car manufacturers do.
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The second point is that she believes the EU needs to age-restrict these platforms. “This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children,” she stated. One of the tools to get this done, she continued, is the age verification app the EU introduced in April.
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The third point is that “The more we learn, and the more we see the impact on our children, the stronger the argument becomes for a social media start date,” von der Leyen said, comparing the potential social media ban to getting a driver’s license or buying alcohol.
“This will not be foolproof. And change takes time. It will take time to embed the cultural change that is already taking shape in our society,” she continued.
The report also recommends no screens for children under 3, and that older children be exposed to social media only under supervision and time-limited.
The European Commission will present a proposal after the summer, von der Leyen said.
This announcement comes amid various countries like the UK, Canada, and Indonesia announced social media bans for children under 16. Australia’s social media ban went into effect in Dec. 2025, but a recent study suggests it’s ineffective at preventing minors under 16 from using these platforms.
