EU to Implement Social Media Age Limits for Children

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on July 13, 2026, that the European Union will introduce age-appropriate restrictions on social media platforms after the summer. This initiative follows recommendations from a special expert panel which suggested a tiered system: zero screen time for children under two, supervised and time-limited access for those aged 3 to 12, and evolving autonomous use for teenagers. While the expert panel did not recommend a blanket ban, von der Leyen is pushing for a legally mandated social media start date to harmonize rules across the 27 member states.

The strategy includes a three-pronged approach: shifting the legal burden of product safety from parents to tech companies, deploying an EU-developed open-source age verification app, and banning addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay for children under 13. The Commission has already ordered Meta and TikTok to dismantle such features or face heavy fines under the Digital Services Act.

This movement aligns with a global trend where more than 20 countries have implemented or proposed similar bans, including Australia, Brazil, China, and Turkey. Within the EU, member states are pursuing varying levels of strictness; France is finalizing a bill to ban users under 15 by September, while other nations like Estonia oppose such restrictions.