European Union announces plans to regulate children's access to social media

On Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled an expert report detailing recommendations to restrict minors' access to social media across the 27-member bloc. The panel suggests a tiered approach rather than a hard age ban, recommending that children under the age of two avoid screen exposure entirely. For children aged three to 13, the report advises that access to internet-enabled devices and social media platforms should be time-limited and require supervision by parents, caregivers, or teachers. While the panel favored a gradual, age-based system, von der Leyen emphasized the necessity of age-appropriate restrictions to mitigate mental and physical health risks. The Commission plans to present a formal legislative proposal following the summer, with a potential announcement during the State of the Union address in September. Other nations, including Australia, Britain, China, India, and the United States, have already implemented or are currently considering similar restrictions targeting major platforms like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok. Social media companies maintain that they already have protective measures for younger users in place.