EU weighs age based social media rules to strengthen child safety

MUMBAI: The scroll may soon come with an age limit. The European Union is preparing to tighten children’s access to social media, signalling that age-based restrictions could become the next major step in the bloc’s push to make the digital world safer for young users.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated that the Commission is examining proposals that would allow children to access social media differently depending on their age, as regulators intensify efforts to address the impact of online platforms on minors.

The move follows the submission of an expert report recommending a graduated access model rather than an outright ban. Under the proposal, children below the age of 13 would be allowed to use social media only for limited periods and under adult supervision, with access expanding progressively as they grow older.

Speaking in Brussels, von der Leyen said online platforms should incorporate safeguards that reflect the age of their users, describing child protection as an increasingly urgent policy priority. She said the European Commission plans to unveil a formal proposal after the summer, with further details expected during her State of the Union address in September.

The proposed framework could extend beyond traditional social media platforms. The Commission is also evaluating whether other digital services designed to maximise user engagement or expose children to potentially harmful content should be brought under the same regulatory umbrella.

If adopted, the rules would establish a common child safety framework across all 27 European Union member states, marking one of the bloc’s most significant attempts to strengthen protections for minors in the digital ecosystem.

The initiative reflects a broader global shift towards tighter regulation of children’s online activity. Countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, China, India and the United States have either introduced restrictions or are considering new rules governing minors’ access to social media platforms.

Technology companies maintain they already deploy age-verification systems and child safety features. Regulators, however, continue to question whether voluntary measures are enough, as concerns grow over addictive platform design, excessive screen time and children’s exposure to harmful online content.