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EU panel urges social media bans for children under 13

By AAP Newswire

Jul 13, 2026

A boy uses his mobile phone to access social media (file image) — Several EU countries, including Spain and Germany, intend to introduce a child social media ban. -AAP Image

An EU panel of experts has recommended restricting social media access for children under the age of 13 across the bloc, saying it should be allowed only under parental supervision or in educational settings.

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The report, convened by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, was presented in Brussels on Monday.

Several EU countries, including Spain, Greece, Germany and Austria, intend to introduce a legal ban on social media for minors up to a certain age.

But any attempt to implement age limits on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat is likely to require action at the EU level, as the European Commission is responsible for enforcing rules on major online platforms within the bloc and national laws must be compatible with EU legislation.

Von der Leyen has recently voiced concern about the impact of social media on children and commissioned an expert panel to advise the commission on the protection of young people online.

She has pointed to Australia as a possible model after it became the first country to introduce a ban on social media access for children under 16 at the end of 2025.

The European Commission is expected to present legislative proposals later in 2026.