EU considers social media ban for children
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The European Union (EU) is considering banning social media for children, following similar efforts seen in the United Kingdom and Australia to restrict children’s access to social media platforms.
On Monday, a 156-page report given to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested restricting access to social media for children under the age of 13 unless there is a parent or teacher present.
The report’s authors, child psychiatrist Professor Jörg Fegert and epidemiologist Dr. Maria Mechior, wrote that children between 13 and 18 years old should only have access to social media platforms that already have safety features in place, including limits on constant scrolling.
“Manufacturers have a duty to ensure the safety of their products,” European Parliament rapporteur Sandro Ruotolo said in a statement. “The same principle must apply to digital platforms. As rapporteur for the European Parliament, I fully agree with this approach. Platforms must eliminate features that encourage addiction, manipulation, and exposure to harmful content or contacts. Safety shall be incorporated into services by design.”
The report also called for an EU “code of conduct for influencers”; a ban on addictive features; a “youth mode” to disable targeted advertising; and the imposition of ethical standards for artificial intelligence “companions.” Children under 3 are to have no screen access whatsoever according to the report’s proposals.
Von der Leyen is expected to announce any new laws restricting social media to European children in September during the annual State of the European Union address.
The EU’s potential ban follows the British government’s ban on social media for children under 16. It became the fifth country to pursue an all-out ban after similar bans were implemented in Australia, Indonesia, Brazil and Canada.
“This is not something I do lightly,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last month in announcing the ban. “And I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people because clearly that is wrong. But government is always about choices. ”
The U.K. ban applies to social platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, along with gaming services and livestreaming platforms. Starmer said this ban could go further than Australia’s ban.
In March, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a report that social media platforms hosted by Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube could face court enforcement if they do not comply with the country’s ban.
Platforms like Reddit, Threads, Twitch and X face fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32.99 million in U.S. currency) if they do not take steps to remove accounts belonging to users under 16.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
The European Union (EU) is considering banning social media for children, following similar efforts seen in the United Kingdom and Australia to restrict children's access to…
This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.
Skip to content
The European Union (EU) is considering banning social media for children, following similar efforts seen in the United Kingdom and Australia to restrict children’s access to social media platforms.
On Monday, a 156-page report given to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested restricting access to social media for children under the age of 13 unless there is a parent or teacher present.
The report’s authors, child psychiatrist Professor Jörg Fegert and epidemiologist Dr. Maria Mechior, wrote that children between 13 and 18 years old should only have access to social media platforms that already have safety features in place, including limits on constant scrolling.
“Manufacturers have a duty to ensure the safety of their products,” European Parliament rapporteur Sandro Ruotolo said in a statement. “The same principle must apply to digital platforms. As rapporteur for the European Parliament, I fully agree with this approach. Platforms must eliminate features that encourage addiction, manipulation, and exposure to harmful content or contacts. Safety shall be incorporated into services by design.”
The report also called for an EU “code of conduct for influencers”; a ban on addictive features; a “youth mode” to disable targeted advertising; and the imposition of ethical standards for artificial intelligence “companions.” Children under 3 are to have no screen access whatsoever according to the report’s proposals.
Von der Leyen is expected to announce any new laws restricting social media to European children in September during the annual State of the European Union address.
The EU’s potential ban follows the British government’s ban on social media for children under 16. It became the fifth country to pursue an all-out ban after similar bans were implemented in Australia, Indonesia, Brazil and Canada.
“This is not something I do lightly,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last month in announcing the ban. “And I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people because clearly that is wrong. But government is always about choices. ”
The U.K. ban applies to social platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, along with gaming services and livestreaming platforms. Starmer said this ban could go further than Australia’s ban.
In March, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a report that social media platforms hosted by Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube could face court enforcement if they do not comply with the country’s ban.
Platforms like Reddit, Threads, Twitch and X face fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32.99 million in U.S. currency) if they do not take steps to remove accounts belonging to users under 16.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
Skip to content
The European Union (EU) is considering banning social media for children, following similar efforts seen in the United Kingdom and Australia to restrict children’s access to social media platforms.
On Monday, a 156-page report given to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested restricting access to social media for children under the age of 13 unless there is a parent or teacher present.
The report’s authors, child psychiatrist Professor Jörg Fegert and epidemiologist Dr. Maria Mechior, wrote that children between 13 and 18 years old should only have access to social media platforms that already have safety features in place, including limits on constant scrolling.
“Manufacturers have a duty to ensure the safety of their products,” European Parliament rapporteur Sandro Ruotolo said in a statement. “The same principle must apply to digital platforms. As rapporteur for the European Parliament, I fully agree with this approach. Platforms must eliminate features that encourage addiction, manipulation, and exposure to harmful content or contacts. Safety shall be incorporated into services by design.”
The report also called for an EU “code of conduct for influencers”; a ban on addictive features; a “youth mode” to disable targeted advertising; and the imposition of ethical standards for artificial intelligence “companions.” Children under 3 are to have no screen access whatsoever according to the report’s proposals.
Von der Leyen is expected to announce any new laws restricting social media to European children in September during the annual State of the European Union address.
The EU’s potential ban follows the British government’s ban on social media for children under 16. It became the fifth country to pursue an all-out ban after similar bans were implemented in Australia, Indonesia, Brazil and Canada.
“This is not something I do lightly,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last month in announcing the ban. “And I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people because clearly that is wrong. But government is always about choices. ”
The U.K. ban applies to social platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, along with gaming services and livestreaming platforms. Starmer said this ban could go further than Australia’s ban.
In March, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a report that social media platforms hosted by Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube could face court enforcement if they do not comply with the country’s ban.
Platforms like Reddit, Threads, Twitch and X face fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32.99 million in U.S. currency) if they do not take steps to remove accounts belonging to users under 16.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.
- The European Union (EU) is considering banning social media for children, following similar efforts seen in the United Kingdom and Australia to restrict children's access to…