EU Pushes for Blockwide Ban on Social Media for Kids Under 13

In a speech that felt part protest, part policy roadmap, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that the bloc would soon say “no” to kids under 13 on social media. It’s a bold move that adds another chapter to a growing global conversation about how to protect youngsters online.

Von der Leyen didn’t mince words. She said the power of Big Tech can be curbed, that we don’t have to accept addictive design tricks, and that we certainly don’t have to tolerate girls having their faces turned into AI‑generated sexual images. “We can do better,” she declared, urging a shift from “overwhelming” to “manageable.”

Under the draft plan, children aged 13‑15 could keep a “mini‑account” – essentially a profile watched over by a parent or guardian, with clear limits on what features they can use and how long they can stay logged on. For the 15‑18 age group, platforms would have to offer a “safe‑design” mode, stripping out the most lurid recommendation engines and other high‑risk elements.

It’s not the first time the EU has tried to police the digital playground. Existing rules already bar anyone under 13 from opening an account on services like Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. Yet enforcement has been patchy, and critics argue that companies simply “age‑gate” without really keeping younger users out.

Digital‑rights experts warn the proposal may only delay the inevitable. Simeon de Brouwer of EDRi argues that the real problem lies in the business model that thrives on endless scrolling and targeted ads. “You can push the age limit a year, but the same platforms will still be engineered to hook the next cohort as soon as they become eligible,” he said.

Member states will still have to debate and vote on the measures – a process that could stretch for years and potentially ruffle feathers in Washington. President Donald Trump, ever the vocal critic of European tech policy, has signalled he would push back against any regulation that threatens U.S. tech giants.

Nevertheless, the idea has its champions in Brussels. Italian MEP Brando Benifei praised the plan as a “necessary showdown” with Big Tech, while Manfred Weber suggested the EU borrow Australia’s approach of letting users turn off recommendation algorithms entirely – a step that “Elon Musk won’t like, and that’s probably why we should do it.”

Across the pond, regulators are also moving. In the United States, Meta recently agreed to a multibillion‑dollar settlement that includes tougher child‑safety measures on Facebook and Instagram. In Europe, countries like Spain and Portugal have already taken unilateral steps to restrict teen access, though France’s top court recently struck down a similar law as an overreach on personal freedoms.

As the debate unfolds, von der Leyen also hinted at a parallel track: a tougher stance on artificial intelligence, calling for joint efforts with allies such as Canada and the United Kingdom to monitor AI development and safeguard against misuse.

All eyes will be on Thursday, when the Commission is set to release more details. Whether the proposal becomes law, or simply a talking point in the ongoing tug‑of‑war between regulators and tech giants, it marks a significant moment in the quest to make the internet a safer place for the next generation.