Preparations are accelerating for new European Union rules aimed at better protecting children in the digital environment.
An expert report commissioned at the request of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and presented in Brussels recommends restricting access to social media platforms across the EU for children under the age of 13. The report highlights the impact of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and similar services on children’s mental, social and cognitive development, arguing that stricter regulations are needed.
According to the experts, children under 13 should only be allowed to access social media and other digital services under parental supervision. The report also proposes an exception for educational purposes. Under the proposal, children in this age group could use digital platforms in schools or as part of educational activities, provided there are time limits and appropriate supervision.
One of the authors of the report, Prof. Dr. Jörg Fegert, director of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Ulm University Hospital, said children aged 13 and older should be able to use age-appropriate social media platforms. However, he stressed that platforms must fully implement standard safety measures. The experts also argue that an EU-wide minimum age should not prevent individual member states from adopting higher minimum age requirements.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the expert report would be carefully examined and that its recommendations would be taken into account in the drafting of new legislation. She added that phased access models for different age groups are also under consideration and that the Commission aims to present a legislative proposal applicable across the EU by the end of the summer. Von der Leyen, who has long advocated stronger online protections for children, said it is becoming increasingly clear that stricter rules governing social media use are necessary.
Existing rules should be enforced
One of the main reasons for pursuing an EU-wide regulation is that individual member states have limited ability to impose technical obligations on global technology companies. For example, even if Germany were to introduce a national minimum age requirement, compliance would largely depend on parental oversight. The European Commission, however, can use its digital policy powers to require global platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat to implement technical age verification systems.
The experts emphasize in their report that enforcing existing rules is just as important as introducing new ones. Major platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat are already subject to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Article 28 of the DSA requires online platforms to take appropriate and proportionate measures to protect minors. In addition, the terms of service of these companies generally state that children under the age of 13 are not permitted to register for their platforms.
The European Commission is calling on social media companies not only to comply with any new regulations but also to effectively enforce their existing age restrictions. As part of these efforts, the ongoing investigation into Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is cited as one of the clearest examples of the EU’s commitment to improving children’s online safety. If the new legislation is adopted, social media companies will be expected to strengthen their age verification systems and introduce additional safeguards to better protect child users.
