EU Commission to propose social media ban for children under 13 — von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans to put forward EU-wide legislation that would ban children under the age of 13 from using social media platforms. The proposal will form part of the Commission's broader digital agenda focused on protecting minors online.

Von der Leyen cited growing evidence linking heavy social media use among children to mental health issues, anxiety, and disrupted development. Several EU member states, including France, have already passed or are considering similar national legislation.

The proposed ban would require age verification systems on major platforms. Tech companies have previously argued that effective age verification is technically challenging. The legislation would complement the EU's existing Digital Services Act (DSA), which already imposes obligations on platforms regarding minor users.