EU Prepares to Limit Children's Social Media Access Across 27 Member States

Brussels. The European Union (EU) is preparing to limit the access of young children to social media across its 27 member states.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that the arrangement is being implemented with the aim of protecting children from online risks. Speaking to reporters in Brussels, she clarified the need to arrange social media use according to children's age.

According to her, the main question now is whether children are at risk online, and if not, how to provide them with a safe digital environment.

Ursula von der Leyen released a report prepared by two experts on this occasion. The report recommends implementing a system of phased access based on age. According to the recommendation, children under 13 years of age will be able to use social media only for a limited time under the supervision of parents, caregivers, or teachers. It is proposed that these restrictions will be gradually removed as children grow older into adolescence.

The European Commission is preparing to release a concrete legal proposal based on the experts' suggestions after the summer. Von der Leyen is expected to formally announce the plan during her annual State of the Union address in September.

According to her, not only social media but also other digital platforms that are inappropriate and addictive for children may fall under the scope of the new rules. Therefore, she indicated that this policy may not be limited to social media but can also be applied to other online services that can pose a challenge to children's safety.

She said that first, it is necessary to clearly identify which platforms are most harmful to children. Then, a system of phased access according to age can be implemented for those platforms, she said.

Previously, Australia, the UK, China, India, and the US have also banned children's social media use or are discussing implementing such arrangements.