EU Proposes Ban on Social Media for Under-13s, Time Limits for Teens
The European Union's top official, Ursula von der Leyen, has proposed a bloc-wide ban for children under 13 from using social media sites and introduced time and feature limits for older teenagers across 27 EU nations.
Philadelphia, PA, September 16, 2026 — The European Union is considering significant new regulations for social media use among young people, with a proposal aiming to ban children under the age of 13 from accessing social media platforms. Additionally, the proposal includes measures to introduce time and feature limits for older teenagers across the 27 member states of the EU.
The proposal was put forward by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch. While the specific details and the timeline for implementation were not provided in the initial announcement, the initiative signals a growing concern among EU officials regarding the impact of social media on minors.
The proposed ban for children under 13 would seek to prevent younger individuals from creating accounts and engaging with popular social media services. For teenagers older than 13, the proposal outlines the introduction of restrictions on how much time they can spend on these platforms and limitations on certain features deemed potentially harmful or addictive. The exact nature of these feature limits was not specified.
This initiative by the European Union follows similar discussions and actions taken in various countries globally to address the potential risks associated with children’s and adolescents’ exposure to digital platforms. The aim appears to be centered on child protection and the promotion of healthier digital habits among younger generations. Further details on the legislative process and the specific technologies or platforms that would be affected are anticipated to be released as the proposal moves forward.
The contractor’s name or specific consulting firms involved in drafting this proposal were not provided. The exact rationale, scientific studies cited, or specific digital features targeted for limitation were also not elaborated upon in the summary. The precise mechanisms for age verification or enforcement of these proposed bans and limits remain to be detailed.
Story summarized from the original created by SAM McNEIL and KELVIN CHAN on www.inquirer.com, see more information here.
