EU Unveils Plan to Restrict Social Media Use for Children Under 15

The European Union has unveiled a proposal to limit access to social media platforms for children under the age of 15, marking one of the bloc’s most ambitious efforts to strengthen online safety for minors across its 27 member states. The plan could affect popular platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and other social networking apps if adopted into law.

The proposal was presented on Wednesday by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as EU policymakers intensified their push to create a safer digital environment for children. “No social media under the age of 13. No personal account under the age of 15,” Von der Leyen said during her state of the union address in Strasbourg, France. She argues that stronger age-based protections have become increasingly necessary as concerns grow over excessive screen time, addictive platform design, cyberbullying and the impact of social media on young people’s mental health. “I am aware that many perceive the power of big tech as overwhelming and impossible to roll back. I disagree,” Von der Leyen said. “Europe has the power to act. It is us who decide the rules, not Big Tech.”

A tougher approach to protecting minors

Rather than introducing a blanket ban, the European Commission is exploring a framework that would require platforms to implement robust age verification and parental consent mechanisms before users under 15 can access certain social media services. The proposal builds on existing obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which already requires major online platforms to take stronger measures to protect children from harmful content and targeted advertising.

Supporters of the initiative say current self-declared age systems are too easy for children to bypass, allowing millions of underage users to create accounts despite minimum age policies already set by most platforms. The EU believes more reliable verification systems are needed to ensure those rules are effectively enforced.

Why the EU is acting now

The proposal comes amid growing international pressure on technology companies to redesign products with child safety in mind. Several European countries have already introduced or proposed national restrictions on smartphone and social media use in schools, while Australia and other governments are pursuing similar age-limit legislation for online platforms.

Technology companies have consistently argued that protecting children requires a balance between privacy, parental involvement and effective age assurance. Civil liberties groups have also cautioned that any verification system must safeguard users’ personal data and avoid creating new privacy risks for children and adults alike.

What happens next?

The proposal will now be discussed with EU member states, regulators and digital platforms before any final rules are adopted. If approved, the legislation would establish a common age standard across the European Union rather than leaving each country to set its own approach, creating a more unified regulatory framework for global social media companies operating in Europe.

The debate reflects a broader global shift in digital regulation. As governments increasingly question how social media shapes childhood, the EU’s proposed under-15 restrictions could become a defining model for online child protection, one that may influence technology policy far beyond Europe’s borders.