European Commission Prepares Ban on Children's Social Media Use at EU Level
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to announce plans for an EU-wide ban on social media for children during her annual address on September 16, though the legal framework and specific conditions are not yet finalized.
According to sources cited by Euractiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen intends to unveil an initiative to prohibit minors from using social media platforms across the European Union in her annual State of the Union speech on September 16. The legal basis for such a ban has not been developed yet, and it remains unclear what minimum age would be set or how compliance would be monitored.
Different enforcement mechanisms are being discussed among EU member states, ranging from parental consent to age verification technologies. The European Commission aims to act swiftly to establish common rules for the entire bloc before national legislations diverge too sharply.
Australia became the first country in the world to legally ban social media for children under 16 in 2024. The United Kingdom is considering similar restrictions. Several EU nations, including France and Spain, are also planning to introduce bans on minors' access to social networks.
