EU Official Considers Age Limits for Children on Social Media
A senior European Union official is proposing restrictions on social media use for children under 13. A panel recommended barring access until tech companies can prove platform safety.
A top European Union official is considering new restrictions that would limit children's access to social media platforms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that a special EU panel recommended forbidding access for those under 13 until technology companies can demonstrate their platforms are safe by design.
Von der Leyen, who has a medical background, also expressed concerns about screen time for very young children, suggesting that those under three should have no screen exposure at all. She likened the need for age limits on social media to obtaining a driver's license or legal age for purchasing alcohol, emphasizing that children should not access these platforms before a certain age.
The move follows a global trend of increasing scrutiny on the effects of social media on young minds. Several countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and Turkey, have already implemented bans or restrictions for users under 15 or 16 on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
The panel's report to the EU chief highlighted that the burden of proof for platform safety should lie with the service providers, not regulators or parents. The report explicitly recommended restricting access for children under 13 until service providers can prove their platforms are safe, and suggested further precautionary age restrictions for children over 13.