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EU Plans Post‑Summer Law to Bar Unsupervised Social Media Use for Under‑13s

The proposal would require platforms to prove their services are safe by design, using age checks and design changes to limit addictive features.

Overview

  • An expert panel delivered recommendations on Monday that children under 13 should only use social media with parental supervision and that babies and toddlers should have no screen exposure.
  • Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Commission will review the report and put forward a legislative proposal after the summer, with an announcement likely at her September State of the Union.
  • The plan shifts the burden of proof to platforms, requiring them to demonstrate safety‑by‑design and to remove or change attention‑driving features such as infinite scroll.
  • Brussels is weighing practical enforcement tools including an EU age‑verification app but officials and experts warn age checks can be invasive and that bans can be easily circumvented.
  • EU capitals remain divided on minimum ages, so any final law would set a bloc baseline while letting member states adopt stricter rules and would still need approval from the European Parliament and all 27 governments.