BRUSSELS: The European Union is moving closer to introducing restrictions on children’s use of social media, with an expert panel expected to recommend limits on minors’ access to online platforms in a report due next week.
The recommendations, scheduled for release on July 13, come amid growing calls from member states for stricter safeguards following Australia’s decision to ban children under 16 from social media. Countries including Denmark and Greece have urged the EU to adopt similar measures.
The European Commission has not ruled out any option, ranging from a complete ban for minors to restrictions on specific platforms or features. However, EU officials have stressed that no final decision has been made ahead of the expert panel’s report.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has signalled support for tighter protections, saying the key issue is “when social media has access to our children and teenagers,” rather than when young people gain access to social media. A formal policy announcement is expected in September.
The panel is not expected to recommend a blanket ban. Instead, the EU is considering a risk-based approach that would target features deemed harmful to children, such as endless scrolling, personalised content feeds and other addictive design elements.
Consumer Protection Commissioner Michael McGrath said the bloc aims to strengthen online protections for children beyond social media, with new consumer protection rules expected later this year recognising minors as vulnerable consumers.
Digital rights advocates, however, have argued that the EU should focus on enforcing existing laws requiring platforms to make their services safer rather than excluding children from social media altogether.
The EU is also expected to conclude an investigation into Meta before the end of the summer over concerns that Facebook and Instagram may encourage addictive behaviour among children.
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