BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Union is moving closer to introducing restrictions on children’s use of social media, with an expert panel expected to recommend new measures aimed at protecting minors online.
The recommendations, due on July 13, could pave the way for new EU-wide rules governing children’s access to digital platforms, following growing concerns over the impact of social media on young users.
The move follows Australia’s decision to become the first country to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media, prompting several European countries, including Denmark and Greece, to push for similar measures.
The European Commission has said all options remain under consideration, ranging from restrictions on specific platform features to broader limits on minors’ access to social media services.
However, EU officials have stressed that no final decisions have been made ahead of the expert panel’s report.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has previously expressed support for stronger safeguards for children online and is expected to outline the bloc’s position formally in September.
“It is not the question when children or teenagers would have access to social media. I would say it’s more the question when social media has access to our children and teenagers,” von der Leyen said last week.
The Commission is also facing pressure from individual member states that have begun pursuing national legislation on the issue.
France has drafted its own proposals, although the European Commission recently asked Paris to amend the legislation, arguing that parts of it fall within the Commission’s regulatory powers.
While some governments have advocated for a blanket ban, observers expect the expert panel to recommend a more targeted approach.
One option under consideration is a risk-based model that would restrict features considered harmful to children, such as endless scrolling, personalised content feeds and other addictive design elements, rather than banning platforms outright.
The approach would differ from Australia’s blanket ban and instead focus on reducing exposure to features that encourage excessive use.
The Commission is also preparing broader consumer protection legislation that would classify children as vulnerable consumers and require digital platforms to design services with their safety in mind.
“Whatever decisions are made on age limits, we must also tackle the business models and design choices shaping children’s online experiences every day,” European Commissioner for Consumer Protection Michael McGrath said.
Support for stricter regulation appears to be growing across Europe.
A recent YouGov survey conducted in France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain found that a majority of respondents support removing design features considered harmful to young users, while 75 pc said platforms should only be accessible to minors after proving they are safe.
Digital rights organisations have, however, cautioned against blanket bans, arguing that existing European laws should instead be fully enforced to compel technology companies to make their platforms safer for children.
The European Union already regulates major online platforms through its Digital Services Act, which requires companies to tackle harmful content and prohibits targeted advertising directed at children.
The European Commission is also expected to conclude an ongoing investigation into Meta’s Facebook and Instagram before the end of the summer over concerns that aspects of their design may contribute to addictive behaviour among minors.