Brussels, Belgium. The European Union has presented an expert report recommending age-based safeguards for children online, including limits on unsupervised social media access and stronger safety obligations for platforms.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would introduce a minimum age for young users to access social media without parental supervision after releasing the report on Monday.
Age-based approach
The panel of experts, convened by von der Leyen last year, said strict age limits alone would not adequately address the risks associated with digital technologies.
It recommended that children under two should not be exposed to screens. Children aged three to 13 should not have unsupervised access to internet-enabled devices, with parents, caregivers and schools playing an active role in guiding and monitoring their online activity.
The report recommends that minors under 13 have only time-limited access to certain platforms.
Platform responsibilities
Von der Leyen said the measures were intended to establish age-appropriate restrictions for online platforms.
“It is very clear that we need age-appropriate restrictions to platforms. This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children,” she said.
The report argues that the burden of proof should shift to large technology companies, requiring platforms to demonstrate that robust safety measures are in place before services are made available to minors.
Features and services under scrutiny
The report also addresses artificial intelligence companions and other services described as “social media+.”
It identifies features including algorithmic recommendation systems and infinite scrolling as tools designed to maximise user attention, stating that minors are not equipped to manage their effects.
Member state initiatives
Several EU member states have proposed stricter legal age limits. France plans to introduce a minimum age of 15 for social media access by September.
Cyprus joined a pilot programme for an age-verification application earlier this year. Estonia has openly opposed such restrictions, while Italy has expressed reservations about adopting hard age limits.
The report presents its recommendations as part of a longer-term effort to make the internet safer for all users.