● Covered by 6 sources · 12 reportsHigh impact5 neutral
EU Proposes Age Restrictions on Children's Social Media Access
Key points
- EU proposes age-appropriate social media restrictions for children.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supports a phased approach.
- A report indicates EU children spend 4-6 hours daily on social media.
- France has passed a law banning social media for children under 15.
- The French ban takes effect September 1 for new accounts, January 2027 for existing.
- EU legislation could be proposed within months.
- A panel of experts recommended no screens for children under 3.
- The expert report was authored by Dr. Jörg M. Fegert and Dr. Maria Melchior.
- The report found almost 60% of children experienced socio-emotional development and mental health issues.
- The EU proposal would give legal force to the 13-year minimum age for social media.
- Australia became the first country to legally enforce a ban in December.
- TikTok's director of public policy for Northern Europe is Ali Law.
- France's new law also bans mobile phones in schools.
- France's ban on new accounts takes effect September 1.
- France's ban on existing accounts takes effect January 2027.
- France's law requires age verification for all users.
- France's law outlaws cell phones in high schools.
- France's ban follows those in Australia, Turkey, and Indonesia.
- Vietnam is considering restricting social media for users under 16.
- Vietnam's proposal would require parental registration for accounts of minors.
- New Zealand plans to ban social media for children under 16.
- New Zealand's Prime Minister is Christopher Luxon.
- Non-compliant platforms in New Zealand face penalties up to 10% of global revenue.
- New Zealand's legislation will require age verification for users.
- New Zealand's bill includes emerging tech like AI companions.
- New Zealand will create an online safety regulator within the Department of Internal Affairs.
EU Considers Restricting Social Media for Children
The European Union is weighing new measures to limit social media access for children under 13. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated potential legislation could be proposed soon to impose such restrictions across the bloc.
The proposal comes following expert recommendations suggesting phased access based on age, with immediate outright bans for very young users under three and supervised use for children under 13.
Platforms would need to demonstrate their services' safety for teenagers to gain access.
Study Sparks Movement Towards Regulation
A report by child psychologist Dr. Jörg M. Fegert and epidemiologist Dr. Maria Melchior revealed European children are spending up to six hours daily on social media platforms, contributing to mental health concerns. These findings have prompted the EU to consider stricter controls.
The study suggests that unsupervised social media use can lead to socio-emotional issues, including anxiety and depression, amplifying calls for age-related access restrictions.
International Trend of Child Online Safety
EU's proposal aligns with global trends where several countries, like Australia, France, and the UK, have either implemented or are considering similar regulations to mitigate cyberbullying and mental health risks associated with social media.
France is ready to ban children under 15 from social media, a move awaiting constitutional approval. Australia's established ban models this international shift towards stringent controls.
Response from Social Media Platforms
In response to these regulatory movements, platforms like TikTok have defended their existing safety measures, emphasizing their commitment to user safety. TikTok highlighted over 50 safety features for users under 16, addressing parental and policy concerns over young user exposure.
Updates
- New Zealand plans to ban social media for children under 16.
- New Zealand's Prime Minister is Christopher Luxon.
- Non-compliant platforms in New Zealand face penalties up to 10% of global revenue.
- New Zealand's legislation will require age verification for users.
- New Zealand's bill includes emerging tech like AI companions.
- New Zealand will create an online safety regulator within the Department of Internal Affairs.
- EU legislation could be proposed within months.
- A panel of experts recommended no screens for children under 3.
- The expert report was authored by Dr. Jörg M. Fegert and Dr. Maria Melchior.
- The report found almost 60% of children experienced socio-emotional development and mental health issues.
- The EU proposal would give legal force to the 13-year minimum age for social media.
- Australia became the first country to legally enforce a ban in December.
- TikTok's director of public policy for Northern Europe is Ali Law.
- France's new law also bans mobile phones in schools.
- France's ban on new accounts takes effect September 1.
- France's ban on existing accounts takes effect January 2027.
- France's law requires age verification for all users.
- France's law outlaws cell phones in high schools.
- France's ban follows those in Australia, Turkey, and Indonesia.
- Vietnam is considering restricting social media for users under 16.
- Vietnam's proposal would require parental registration for accounts of minors.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
New Zealand's Prime Minister announced plans for legislation to ban social media access for children under 16, with penalties up to 10% of global revenue for non-compliant platforms. The bill aims to protect children from harmful content and addictive technology, requiring platforms to verify user age and monitor risks.
France's top court, the Constitutional Council, struck down a bill that would have banned social media for children under 15, citing insufficient legal safeguards for age verification. President Macron has requested the government rewrite the legislation to address the court's concerns, indicating the ban is still being pursued.
Australia's eSafety Commissioner reported that a social media ban for under-16s has had limited impact three months after implementation, with many children still accessing platforms. The percentage of under-16s with accounts on restricted platforms decreased, but overall access remained high, indicating workarounds and continued usage. This matters as other countries consider similar regulations, highlighting challenges in enforcing age restrictions online.
Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is drafting a decree that would allow users under 16 to retain social media accounts but restrict their ability to post, comment, or react to content. This proposal also requires parental registration and monitoring for accounts of minors, aligning with a global trend of countries implementing social media restrictions for young users to address concerns like cyberbullying and mental health.
France's Parliament approved a law banning social media access for children under 15, with new accounts blocked from September 1 and existing accounts by January 2027. This legislation requires age verification for all users and sets a precedent as the first European country to enact such a ban, potentially influencing similar regulations globally.
France has enacted a bill banning social media use for children under 15, pending Constitutional approval. This law also prohibits mobile phones in schools and aims to mitigate health risks associated with young social media users.
Several countries are moving to impose bans on social media access for children and teens, primarily to counter issues like cyberbullying and mental health risks. Initiatives have been announced in Australia, France, Austria, Canada, and Denmark, each with varying age limits and compliance measures for social media companies.
TikTok's policy chief Ali Law defended the platform's safety measures as the EU advances plans to limit children's social media access. The EU, following extensive scrutiny on child safety, is considering age limits and emphasizing parental control in children's social media use. TikTok reports implementing over 50 safety settings for users under 16.
The European Commission proposed establishing an age limit of 13 for children's access to social media, citing safety concerns. This aligns with efforts from various EU countries already targeting similar restrictions.
The European Union has proposed a ban on social media usage for children under 13, enforcing existing age restrictions through law. The plan includes gradual access for teens aged 13 to 16, contingent on platforms proving their appropriateness and safety. This move is part of a broader international trend aimed at addressing mental health concerns linked to social media use among young users.
The EU is considering a ban on social media for children following a study indicating they spend up to six hours daily on platforms. The report revealed significant mental health issues in children tied to social media use, prompting recommendations for restrictions based on age and supervision.
The European Union is considering new regulations for children's social media access, including age limits and proof of safety from platforms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supports a phased approach to restrict access for younger users and plans to propose legislation soon, impacting existing global discussions on child safety online.