EU proposes ban on social media for children under 13, joining global restrictions
The European Union unveiled a plan to prohibit children younger than 13 from using social-media platforms, adding to a worldwide trend of limiting minors' online access.
On Wednesday the European Union presented a proposal to forbid children under 13 from accessing social-media services, with limited, supervised access permitted until age 15. The initiative joins a list of over 20 nations that have enacted bans or age-verification requirements for minors, from Australia’s blanket under-16 prohibition to Brazil’s parental-link mandate. Within the bloc, Greece intends to ban under-15s from 2027, Germany’s expert commission is weighing age-tiered limits, and Austria and Slovenia are preparing restrictions for under-14 and under-15 users respectively.
Outside Europe, California, the United Arab Emirates and several other jurisdictions have introduced or are planning similar measures. The coordinated effort aims to curb platform designs that keep young users hooked and to safeguard children’s digital wellbeing.
Why it matters
Limiting minors’ social-media use could reduce exposure to harmful content and addictive design worldwide.
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