Ursula von der Leyen's move to ban children under 13 from using social media is a response to growing concerns about the potential harms of online platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This law requires a new level of commitment to be realized.
Legal and Privacy Challenges
The European Commission now needs to negotiate with national governments and technology experts to determine how to implement a law at the European level that prohibits children under 13 from using social media and severely limits access for teenagers under 15, without violating the privacy of young people and adults in the age verification process.
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Reducing the harms of social media on young people is one of the main priorities of the President of the European Commission, who, as a doctor and mother of seven, has repeatedly criticized the impact of the internet on adolescent health. She stated during the official unveiling of the EU Kids Act on Thursday: "If a platform wants to reach children or teenagers, it must first prove that it is safe."
Global Impacts and Protests
The EU's proposed measures come after Australia implemented the first national ban on social media use for individuals under 16 in December 2025. This ban has had limited impact, and many children still have access to social media. Global campaigns by parents and mental health professionals warn that social media leads to addiction, social isolation, and depression.
Some children's rights activists and EU governments believe that blanket bans are not an appropriate solution and violate young people's rights to information and free expression. Their concerns have been incorporated into this new proposal, which seeks to balance conflicting considerations.
However, the complexities involved in this law only add to its implementation challenges. This proposal effectively prohibits anyone under 13 from creating accounts on social media and video-sharing platforms and imposes strict limitations on teenagers aged 13 to 15.
The European Commission aims to conclude negotiations within the next 8 to 12 months. However, the necessary processes could push the law's implementation date to mid-2028. This goal is ambitious for the EU's legislative process and, especially given the existing opposition in some countries, will not be an easy task.
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