The European Union is weighing sweeping new restrictions on children’s and teenagers’ access to social media, including age limits, phased access rules, and an outright ban. Social media platforms could also be required to prove their services are not harmful before young people are allowed to use them.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in July 2026 that the bloc’s executive arm could propose new legislation within months, following the release of recommendations from a panel of experts. “This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about when social media can access our children,” von der Leyen said.
The expert panel recommended a phased approach: no screens at all for children under 3, supervised internet use for those under 13, and some restrictions for older teenagers. It also called for platforms to demonstrate their services are safe for younger users — a position von der Leyen said she supports. The Commission plans to review the report and return with proposals “after the summer,” though any resulting legislation would still require approval from the European Parliament and all 27 EU member states before taking effect.
The proposed rules come amid growing regulatory pressure on major platforms. A preliminary EU investigation found Meta in breach of its Digital Services Act last week over the “addictive” design of Facebook and Instagram. A similar finding was issued against TikTok earlier in 2026.
If adopted, EU legislation would add significant momentum to a broader global push to limit children’s use of social media, joining similar proposals and active regulations already underway in the UK and Australia. New rules could also increase pressure on platforms to demonstrate the safety of their services for younger users.
Source: The Verge