Under 13: Eurocommission Experts Recommend Age Restrictions for Social Media Access

The experts  recommended no screens at all for babies and toddlers, and supervised use of "age-appropriate social media" and devices for children aged between three and 12 by parents or teachers.

And for those aged 13 to 18, they advised "evolving autonomous use" of social media and other digital platforms that have "key safety features".

The EU's executive body commissioned doctors, academics, youth representatives and parents  the report last year to help shape its proposals for new regulations on children's access to social media, including a potential blanket ban.

The EU chief  Ursula  Von der Leyen said the argument to ban toddlers from screens and digital platforms, and that children under 13 should only be allowed to use social media under adult supervision and for limited periods, was the "most convincing".

According to data from the research, young people spend between four and six hours a day on screens, and almost 60% of young children have experienced emotional or psychosocial problems online.

The European Union is instead pushing for strict age limits and usage restrictions for children and teenagers because of potential  mental health concerns, mounting worries over digital addiction, and pressure from safety advocates.

The debate was not about whether children should ever use social media but "whether and when social media can access our children.", Von der Leyen stated.

She emphasized  that technology companies, rather than parents or children, should bear responsibility for making online platforms safe.

"Car manufacturers must make their vehicles safe. We do not expect children to design their own seatbelts. We do not expect parents to fit airbags at home. And the very same must be true for big tech.", noted

Invoking Australia's ban on social media for under-16s, von der Leyen said she was following the outcome of the policy closely "to see what next steps we can take here in Europe".

Australia became the first country to implement age restrictions in December 2025, followed this year by Indonesia and Malaysia.

The Commission will review the panel's recommendations before presenting legislative proposals after the summer, von der Leyen confirmed.

The media could announce  the ban on September 16, when Von der Leyen is expected to use her annual State of the Union speech to unveil plans for EU-wide age restrictions on social media.

With several member states pushing ahead with their own legislation, the EU  trying to come up with a consistent joint approach. Some countries are on board, officials told Politico news site.

Current Status in Europe

The main problem is how to avoid different age limits across 27 EU countries.

France is one of the EU countries  with the government seeking to fast-track legislation that would ban under-15s from major platforms from the start of the new school year in September.

The bill has been held up by disagreements in parliament over whether to apply the ban to all social networks or just those that regulators judge to be harmful – a distinction that the European Commission has warned could make it incompatible with EU law.

Italy is also considering a ban for under-15s.

Turkey has already passed a ban for under-15s that will come into effect later this year.

Greece has announced that it will introduce one from 2027.

Austria and Slovenia are preparing legislation to prohibit access for under-14s and under-15s respectively.

Spain and Portugal have proposed setting a minimum age of 16. Germany, Denmark and Sweden are also debating age restrictions.

Estonia opposes a ban, arguing that it is unenforceable.

Belgium also declined to sign a declaration on the digital age of majority supporting such restrictions  because the Flanders region vetoed it.

Von der Leyen said the European Commission would "have a very careful look" at the national proposals and  will prepare its own proposal  " to find a common solution".

Sources: European Commission, Euraktiv, Politico, France24