EU Plans Social Media Ban for Under-13s
EU to Restrict Social Media Access for Children Under 13
Sumaira FH
Published September 17, 2026 | 07:00 AM
BRUSSELS (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 17th Sep, 2026) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans on Wednesday to prevent children under 13 from using social media, as part of a strategy to enhance protection against digital platform risks.
During her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen stated that the EU aims to introduce age-based protection levels. Children aged 13 and under 15 will be limited to "mini accounts" with parental supervision, allowing one hour of daily use. For 15 to 18-year-olds, platforms will be required to implement "safe-by-design" measures.
Tech companies will also need to demonstrate the safety of their platforms for children. The European Commission will formally propose the EU Kids Act on Thursday, outlining graduated age-based protections for social media use.