European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen announced Monday that the bloc will propose legislation to restrict children’s access to social media, marking a significant escalation in efforts across Europe and globally to curb what many see as the harmful effects of these platforms on young people.
“We need to set the age at which children can legally access social media,” von der Leyen said at a press conference. “We need to consider phased and gradual access for different age ranges.” The announcement came after an expert panel tasked by the Commission delivered recommendations on protecting minors online, though the EU said no final decisions have been made on specific age thresholds or implementation methods.
The move reflects a dramatic shift in policy over recent months. More than 20 countries globally, including numerous European nations, have moved to restrict or ban children’s access to social media platforms, following Australia’s precedent-setting ban on users under 16 that took effect in December 2025. The momentum has grown rapidly, with governments citing rising mental health concerns, addiction risks, and the addictive design features built into these platforms.
Von der Leyen has already signaled her preference for action in previous months. “This is not about whether children can access social media,” she said. “It is about whether and when social media can access our children.” She emphasized that children need “time to play, time to build friendships, time to make mistakes” and “time to shape their own identity, their own personality, before an algorithm shapes them instead.”
Within the EU, individual member states have been racing ahead with their own legislation. France has approved a ban on social media for children under 15 set to take effect in September 2026. Spain announced plans in February to ban access for those under 16, drawing fierce criticism from Elon Musk, who called Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez a “fascist totalitarian” over the proposal. Greece has announced a ban for children under 15 beginning January 2027. Austria agreed to a ban for those under 14, while Denmark is pursuing restrictions for children under 15 with limited parental override provisions.
As of May 2026, 23 of the EU’s 27 member states were at least contemplating national legislation to restrict or forbid social media access for children under certain ages. Germany’s ruling parties have proposed banning users under 14 with restricted access for teens 14 to 16. Italy and Slovenia are both considering measures targeting children under 15. Portugal requires explicit parental consent for ages 13 to 16. The patchwork of national approaches has created pressure for EU-level harmonization.
The Commission has already developed an age verification app designed to help enforce such restrictions. The system uses zero-knowledge cryptographic techniques to confirm whether a user meets an age threshold without disclosing their actual age or personal data. The app is ready for implementation by member states, though cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about potential vulnerabilities.
The debate extends beyond simple age bans. The Commission is considering multiple approaches, including minimum age requirements, graduated access restrictions for different age ranges, and targeted bans on specific addictive features like infinite scroll, algorithmic recommendations, and reward-based engagement mechanisms. The European Commission has also launched investigations into Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, examining how their design choices may drive addictive behavior in children.
Public support for restrictions remains strong across Europe. A YouGov survey found that 75 percent of respondents supported platforms being inaccessible to minors until companies could prove their services were safe. Polling in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain showed majorities backing bans for under-16s, with parents among the strongest supporters.
However, critics of age-based bans argue the approach may be too blunt. Some human rights organizations including UNICEF and Amnesty International have warned that blanket restrictions could undermine children’s free expression and access to information rights. Some analysts note that teenagers have historically found ways around restrictions, and that focusing on platform design regulation rather than outright bans might be more effective. Estonia has notably been the rare EU country voicing opposition to social media bans.
Technology companies have warned that strict age verification requirements could drive minors toward unregulated services and raise significant technical and privacy challenges. Platform operators have argued that hard age limits lack nuance and may not address the root causes of potential harms.
The European Commission is set to formally present its proposal after the summer break, with a formal announcement potentially coming in September. The expert panel’s recommendations are expected to guide that proposal, though von der Leyen indicated the Commission may pursue a more graduated approach than an outright ban. The coming months will test whether Brussels can forge a unified regulatory framework or whether the fragmented national efforts will continue to dominate the landscape.