EU Proposes Ban on Social Media Access for Under 13s
The proposal would require platforms to prove they are safe and create guardian-supervised mini accounts for ages 13 to 15.
- On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed banning social media, online games, and chatbots for children under 13 during her annual State of the European Union speech in Strasbourg.
- Describing the issue as a "capture of our children," Leyen argued that smartphone access costs minors sleep and increases anxiety, claiming this environment is "depriving children of their childhood."
- Under her proposal, children aged 13 to 15 would receive "mini accounts" chaperoned by guardians, while platforms must ensure "safe design" for users between 15 and 18.
- The European Union's 27 Member States will now vote on the proposal, which could spark tensions with President Donald Trump, who has long criticized European tech regulations.
- Asserting that the Commission decides the rules rather than Big Tech, Leyen stated platforms will "have to prove they are safe" under the new Act.
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Zeit Online
"No social networks before the age of 13" and "no personal account before the age of 15", said the President of the Commission, in a solemn speech to the European Parliament. "Thus, children between the ages of 13 and 15 will only have mini-accounts, installed and supervised by their parents, with limited functionality and limited duration of use. And for 15-18 years, the platforms will be required to adopt a secure design," she added.
A concrete legislative proposal will be presented on Thursday.
Children between 13 and 15 years of age will only have access to parent-supervised child accounts and up to 18 years of age will only have access to platforms that do not apply designs that can lead to addiction
EU Unveils Social Media Curbs for Kids and Ban on Users Under 13
The European Union is working to ban social media for kids under 13 and restrict the use of technology and artificial intelligence services for older children, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her annual address Wednesday.
In Germany and the rest of the EU, social networks could not be allowed until the age of 13. What is Brussels planning?
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