EU plans social media ban for children under 13 and account limits up to age 15
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the upcoming EU Kids Act in Strasbourg, introducing a three-tier age system that restricts platform access and shifts the safety burden onto technology companies.
Three-tier access framework
In her annual State of the European Union address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 16 September 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined the EU Kids Act. The regulation establishes a staged system across the 27 member states to regulate youth access to social media, online games, and chatbots. Under the plan, children under 13 face a complete ban from social platforms. Minors between the ages of 13 and 15 may only access restricted mini-accounts installed and supervised by parents. For teenagers between 15 and 18 years old, platforms must implement mandatory safe design standards that restrict addictive mechanics.
No social media before the age of 13. No personal account before 15.
Legislative path and age verification
The draft legislation follows months of preparation in Brussels, building on recommendations presented in July 2026 by an expert panel on child internet safety. While that panel suggested a single cutoff at age 13, the Commission chose a tiered structure inspired by national initiatives in France and Spain. To enforce the age boundaries, the European Union plans to deploy age verification tools such as digital identity wallets and a dedicated verification application. The system transmits only an age range to platforms without revealing an individual user's exact age or identity details. The formal legislative proposal goes to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on 17 September 2026 for review.
- Expert panel submits recommendations on online child safety to the European Commission
- Ursula von der Leyen announces the EU Kids Act during the State of the Union speech
- The European Commission formally presents the legislative proposal in Strasbourg
Obligations on technology platforms
The proposed framework shifts the burden of proof onto platform operators, requiring technology firms to demonstrate that their services are safe for minors. Digital companies must comply with existing Digital Services Act obligations while removing interface elements that encourage continuous screen time. European youth currently spend an average of four to six hours each day on digital devices. The European Commission stated that algorithms must stop steering young users toward extreme content, while platforms must prevent the misuse of photos for artificial intelligence generated sexual imagery.
We do not have to accept addictive features. We do not have to accept children being drawn into ever more extreme content. We do not have to accept that girls have their photos used for AI-generated sexualized images.
Health concerns and international scope
The Commission cited health research linking prolonged social media use to depression, concentration difficulties, and eating disorders in adolescents. During her speech, von der Leyen referenced the suicide of a 14-year-old girl named Olea in Belgium following severe cyberbullying. The speech also addressed wider international relations, noting that Canada could become the first associate member of the European Union. In addition, the executive announced a climate insurance alliance to address gaps where private insurance covers only 25% of extreme weather disaster costs across Europe.
