EU Plans To Ban Social Media For Under-13s

The EU is planning new rules that would ban children under 13 from social media and limit teenagers to one hour a day online.

The proposal is part of the EU Kids Act unveiled on Thursday. Under it, 13 to 15-year-olds would only be allowed to use mini accounts linked to a parent or guardian.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the move would put parents back in control and give them tools to keep children safe online.

She said the rules would cover TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat, as well as YouTube, AI chatbots and online games, warning that children are being exposed too early to a world where bullying follows them home.

Under the draft, only those aged 15 and above could open their own accounts. Von der Leyen said companies would still be responsible for content and must prove their platforms are safe by design, with no addictive features, or face fines of up to 6% of global sales.

France and Spain are already pursuing their own bans. An EU law would replace those, but countries could go stricter. Enforcement will be tough as France’s under-15s ban was blocked last month by its top court for breaching free speech.

Critics also warn about privacy and age verification. The Commission said it will use its existing verification app and will not collect or share personal data.

The plan comes amid pressure on Big Tech. The EU warned Meta in July over addictive features like infinite scroll, which Meta disputed. In August, Meta agreed an $18bn US settlement over child harm claims without admitting wrongdoing.

The Commission said it based the proposal on its child safety panel, a survey where 92% backed stronger online protection, and Australia’s under-16s ban which has struggled to enforce. The UK is set to introduce a similar ban next spring.