EU Proposes Total Social Media Ban for Children Under 13
WHO:
Fast Company - Brando Benifei, an Italian member of the European Parliament, expressed support for the plan and emphasized the need to confront Big Tech's interests.
CNN - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan.
Techmeme - The proposal involves the 27-nation European Union.
WHAT:
Fast Company - The EU's proposal includes granting "mini accounts" to kids aged 13-15, with limits on features and access time.
CNN - Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for under 16s in December 2025.
CNN - Von der Leyen stated, “No social media under the age of 13. No personal account under the age of 15.”
CNN - The EU plans to ban social media for children under 13.
CNN - The proposal includes restrictions on digital technology for older children.
CNN - The EU would allow 13- and 14-year-olds to have “mini accounts” with parental supervision and limited features.
CNN - The use of such accounts would be capped at one hour per day.
CNN - A new Kids Act will be proposed by the European Commission.
WHERE:
CNN - The announcement was made during a state of the union address in Strasbourg, France.
WHEN:
CNN - The new Kids Act proposal is set to be made on Thursday.
WHY:
Fast Company - Von der Leyen stated, “We do not have to accept addictive features. We do not have to accept children being drawn into ever more extreme content. We do not have to accept that girls have their photos used for AI-generated sexualized images.”
Wired - The EU aims to curb Big Tech’s grip on children with its new EU Kids Act.
CNN - The move comes after several EU member states have introduced social media limits on teenagers.
CNN - There is a global push to restrict children’s access to social media.
CNN - Von der Leyen stated, “I am aware that many perceive the power of big tech as overwhelming and impossible to roll back. I disagree.”
HOW:
Fast Company - The EU plans to work with "like-minded partners" such as Canada and Britain on discussions regarding AI security and model evaluation.
Wired - The implementation of the plan may face challenges due to age checks, parental oversight, and privacy concerns.
CNN - The EU would reverse the burden of proof, requiring social media platforms to prove they are safe for minors.
(UPDATED September 16, 2026 17:01 UTC)
The European Union is moving forward with a proposal that would create "mini accounts" for kids aged 13 to 15, limiting their features and access time to online platforms. Italian MEP Brando Benifei has voiced his support for this initiative, highlighting the necessity of addressing the interests of Big Tech, while EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that society should not accept addictive features or the exploitation of children online. To bolster this effort, the EU plans to collaborate with like-minded partners, including Canada and Britain, to enhance discussions on AI security and model evaluation.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 11:58 UTC)
Australia has made headlines as the first country to ban social media for those under 16, a move that took effect in December 2025. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the new EU Kids Act, stating, “No social media under the age of 13. No personal account under the age of 15.” However, the rollout of this initiative may encounter hurdles related to age verification, parental oversight, and privacy issues.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 11:01 UTC)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a significant proposal during a state of the union address in Strasbourg, France, aiming to ban social media for children under 13 across the 27-nation European Union. The plan includes restrictions on digital technology for older children, allowing 13- and 14-year-olds to have “mini accounts” under parental supervision, with usage capped at one hour per day. A new Kids Act is set to be proposed on Thursday, reversing the burden of proof so that social media platforms must demonstrate their safety for minors, a move that reflects a growing global concern about children's access to social media.