The European Union is preparing sweeping new rules that could significantly limit children’s access to social media and other online platforms, as part of efforts to improve digital safety and reduce the risks posed by harmful online content.
The proposed measures, which would apply across the EU’s 27 member states, are aimed particularly at protecting children under the age of 13 while introducing age-based restrictions that become more flexible as young users grow older.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that the European Commission is studying recommendations from two experts who proposed a tiered system allowing children to access online platforms according to their age and level of maturity.
Under the proposal, children younger than 13 would only be allowed to use social media for limited periods and under the supervision of parents, teachers or guardians. Restrictions would gradually be relaxed during adolescence as children develop the skills to use digital platforms more safely and responsibly.
Von der Leyen said the debate is no longer about whether children face dangers online, but rather how governments should ensure they begin using the internet in the safest possible way.
“It is clear that we need age-appropriate restrictions on access to online platforms,” she said.
The European Commission is expected to turn the recommendations into a formal legislative proposal after the summer, with further details likely to be unveiled during the State of the Union address in September.
If adopted, the legislation would represent one of the EU’s most ambitious attempts to strengthen protections for children in the digital environment.
The planned rules may extend beyond traditional social media platforms. Von der Leyen said regulators are also considering restrictions on other online services that feature addictive or potentially harmful functions, including automatic content recommendation algorithms and features designed to encourage prolonged screen time.
She described the broader approach as “Social Media Plus”, signalling that the new framework could regulate a wider range of digital platforms rather than focusing solely on social networking sites.
The EU’s initiative comes as governments around the world, including Australia, the United Kingdom, China, India and the United States, continue exploring stricter rules governing children’s use of platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
While technology companies maintain that they already enforce minimum age requirements and child safety measures, regulators argue that existing safeguards are insufficient to tackle harmful content, online addiction and the growing impact of excessive social media use on children’s mental health.
Analysts believe that if the EU moves ahead with the legislation, major technology companies could face increased pressure to strengthen age-verification systems, improve content moderation and redesign their platforms to provide safer experiences for users of different age groups. The proposals could also establish a new global benchmark for regulating children’s access to digital services.
