The European Commission is considering an EU-wide ban on social media for children under 13, following recommendations from an expert panel co-chaired by German child psychiatrist Jörg Fegert and French epidemiologist Maria Melchior. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged a draft law in the autumn, emphasizing the need for age-appropriate restrictions to protect children from 'predatory algorithms.' The proposal comes after an expert group called for restrictions on social media use for those under 13.
Key Takeaways
The European Commission is considering an EU-wide ban on social media for children under 13, following recommendations from an expert panel. The proposal includes age-appropriate restrictions and has gained support from several member states.
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged a draft law in the autumn to protect children from 'predatory algorithms'
- At least 10 EU countries have announced plans for bans, with France aiming for under-15s and Spain targeting under-16s
- The expert panel recommended no screen use under three, except for limited activities like video calls or looking at family photos
- TikTok's policy chief Ali Law defended the platform's safety measures, highlighting over 50 preset safety settings for users under 16
⚖
▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 4 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member State Bans | 1 Difference | Majority reports at least 10 EU countries considering bans; eNCA focuses on France | ▼ |
| Expert Panel Recommendations | Broad Agreement | Recommended ban under 13, staged approach by age group | |
| Eu Commission President's Stance | Broad Agreement | Pledged draft law in autumn for age-appropriate restrictions | |
| Screen Use Recommendations | Broad Agreement | No screen use under three except for limited activities |
Member State Bans
▼Majority reports at least 10 EU countries considering bans; eNCA focuses on France
Expert Panel Recommendations
Broad AgreementRecommended ban under 13, staged approach by age group
Eu Commission President's Stance
Broad AgreementPledged draft law in autumn for age-appropriate restrictions
Screen Use Recommendations
Broad AgreementNo screen use under three except for limited activities
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The panel recommended a 'staged approach' to internet use by age group and suggested that governments of member states could opt for higher 'precautionary' age restrictions. At least 10 EU countries have announced plans for bans, with France pledging to ban social media for under-15s and Spain aiming for restrictions on under-16s. Greece will implement curbs for under-15s starting January 2027.
The European Commission has already concluded preliminary indictments against Meta and TikTok, citing their 'addictive' design features such as infinite scroll, video autoplay, push notifications, and highly-personalized algorithms. The expert panel recommended no screen use under three, except for limited activities like video calls or looking at family photos. For ages three to 12, the group suggested time-limited internet use with a carer or teacher.
TikTok's policy chief Ali Law defended the platform's safety measures, highlighting over 50 preset safety settings for users under 16. These include a one-hour screen time limit and restrictions on direct messages and selling on TikTok Shop. Law emphasized that these measures aim to ensure a healthy relationship with the app.
The European Commission has also been targeting tech companies through other means, using its Digital Safety Act to warn Meta about disabling addictive design features such as infinite scrolling or risking hefty fines. Von der Leyen noted that children under 3 should have no exposure to screens at all and suggested phased and gradual access for different age ranges to social media. Children under 13 should only have 'time-limited' access under the supervision of parents, teachers, or other caregivers.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 4 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.