BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled new regulations to safeguard children online, proposing a social media ban for users under 13 years old and a one-hour daily usage limit for children aged 13 to 15 with supervised accounts.
The Commission's initiative responds to mounting evidence linking extensive social media use to mental health challenges in adolescents, including increased rates of anxiety, depression and cyberbullying among young users.
Implementing age restrictions and time limits would require substantial changes from major social media platforms. Companies like Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, and Alphabet, which operates YouTube, would need to develop robust age verification technologies. Apple and Microsoft, through their app store policies, would also face new compliance demands.
Tech industry groups have previously expressed concerns about the feasibility and privacy implications of universal age verification, arguing that implementing such systems across diverse platforms presents significant technical and logistical hurdles. Compliance costs could be substantial for companies operating within the EU market.
The European Union has led global digital regulation efforts through GDPR and digital market competition rules. This framework for child online safety could similarly influence policies in other nations.
The legislative package will move through the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Member states will debate the proposals, potentially introducing amendments, with final adoption expected within several months.
