The EU proposes new limits for children on social media.

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced strict rules for children on the internet on 16 September. In her annual speech to the European Parliament she said that children under 13 should not use social media at all. Until the age of 15, according to her, children should not have their own account. The very next day the Commission published the full legislative proposal, which would apply in all 27 member states.

According to the proposal, children aged 13 to 15 will be able to have only mini accounts. Such accounts will be opened and supervised by parents, while some features will be switched off. There will be a limit on the time spent in front of the screen as well. Platforms will have to offer safer content for young people aged 16 and 17. The rules will not apply only to social media, but also to video platforms, online games and AI chatbots. The Commission also wants to ban tricks such as endless scrolling and constant notifications, which keep children in front of the screen. Platforms themselves will have to prove that they are safe for children.

But how will they check the age of users? The EU is developing a special app, which only confirms whether the user is old enough. The user shows a document once, and the app does not keep a copy of it. However, critics warn that even adults will have to prove their age. They are worried both about privacy and about the security of personal data.

Some countries do not want to wait for the EU. Australia banned social media for children under 16 back in December 2025. In France parliament passed a ban for children under 15 in July. But in August the Constitutional Council blocked the ban, because it threatened freedom of expression and privacy. Greece, Spain and Denmark are preparing similar measures too.

The proposal is not yet law. For it to become law, the European Parliament and the member states must approve it. This usually takes several years, so children in Europe will not feel the change for a long time.