EU panel recommends supervised social media for children under 13
7 verified3 unconfirmed
A panel of experts advising the European Union on online child protection has recommended that children under 13 should only be allowed to use social media under supervision. The report, presented in Brussels on Monday, also advised no screens at all for children under three and “evolving autonomous use” for teenagers aged 13 to 18. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU’s executive body will propose new legislation on children’s social media use after the summer. Von der Leyen described the approach as a “phased and gradual” introduction of age-appropriate restrictions, citing Australia as a possible model. The recommendations come as the European Commission last week found Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, to have breached the bloc’s Digital Services Act over the addictive design of its platforms. The Verge reports that any legislation would still need approval from the European Parliament and member states before becoming law, adding pressure on platforms to prove their services are safe for younger users.
What’s verified
The EU expert panel recommended that children under 13 should only have supervised access to social media.
The panel advised no screens at all for children under three.
For teenagers ages 13 to 18, the panel recommended “evolving autonomous use” of social media with key safety features.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will propose new legislation after the summer.
Von der Leyen stated, “This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about when social media can access our children.”
The European Commission found Meta to have breached Digital Services Act rules due to the addictive design of its platforms, harming users including minors.
Australia was cited as a model for social media age limits.
Not yet confirmed
The exact composition of the expert panel is detailed in only one source, which states it consisted of doctors, academics, youth representatives, and parents.
One source mentions a prior DSA breach finding against TikTok earlier in the year, which the other source does not mention.
It is unclear how quickly legislation will move through the European Parliament and the 27 member countries once proposed.
Key figures
Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission)
Meta (parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp)
The European Commission’s expert panel on online child protection
