The European Commission plans to restrict social media access for children under 13, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.
Under the proposed rules, children aged 13 and 14 would only be allowed to use supervised accounts created and managed by their parents or guardians.
Von der Leyen said the supervised accounts would have limited features and allow children to spend up to one hour daily on social media.
Users would be allowed to create personal accounts from age 15; while platforms would be required to implement safety-by-design measures for users aged 15 to 18.
The measures could include restrictions on algorithms that encourage addictive behavior, infinite scrolling and automatic video playback.
Major social media platforms already set 13 as the minimum age in their terms of service, but EU regulators have repeatedly criticised them for failing to enforce the requirement.
The European Commission is expected to present more details of the proposed legislation on Thursday.
The European Parliament and EU member states would then examine and amend the proposal, a process that could take months or years before a final agreement is reached.
France, Greece and Austria are among EU countries that have advocated legislation establishing a minimum age for social media use, while others remain cautious.
France has already planned a ban on social media use by children and young people under 15.
EU member states can currently restrict children’s access to social media, but enforcement largely depends on parents, while mandatory age verification by major online platforms requires EU legislation.
Von der Leyen has repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of social media and other digital applications on children and advocated stronger safety measures.
She told EU lawmakers that young Europeans currently spend between four and six hours a day on screens.
She said children were increasingly exposed to digital feeds designed to keep them engaged for extended periods, warning that excessive use could deprive them of aspects of childhood.
