EU Proposes Social Media Restrictions for Children Under 13
The European Union is planning to introduce rules that would prevent children under the age of 13 from accessing social media platforms as part of efforts to protect young people from online harm.
The proposal was announced on Wednesday by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her annual State of the Union address in Strasbourg, France.
Under the proposed rules, children aged 13 to 15 could be allowed to use limited social media accounts under parental supervision. Social media platforms would also be required to introduce stronger protections for younger users.
Von der Leyen said stronger measures are needed to protect children and teenagers from risks associated with social media, including exposure to harmful content and excessive use.
She also called for international cooperation to address the risks associated with artificial intelligence.
The proposed rules still need to be discussed and approved by the European Union’s 27 member states before they can take effect.
The initiative comes as several countries are taking steps to strengthen online safety protections for children and teenagers.
