EU Plans Minimum Age for Social Media Use to Protect Children

As social media, AI companions and other high-risk services become more widespread, children's online safety and privacy have emerged as a global regulatory priority. EU member states have historically imposed differing age limits on young people's access to online services, weakening enforcement and safeguards. To protect young people from addiction and harmful content that could damage their mental and physical health, the EU is working to establish a unified regulatory framework. The rules would force global technology giants to fundamentally redesign their product access and age-verification mechanisms.

A European Commission panel on children's online safety recently recommended a uniform minimum age of 13 for access to high-risk digital services. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen subsequently backed the proposal, with concrete policy measures expected in autumn 2026. The plan would place primary legal responsibility on social media platforms, requiring them to proactively demonstrate that their services do not harm minors or face heavy penalties.