EU announces plan to ban social media for under 13s
9 hours ago
- EU President von der Leyen announces a ban on social media for children under 13 across the bloc, with additional restrictions for older teens.
- Children aged 13–14 would be allowed 'mini accounts' with parental supervision, limited features, and a one-hour daily cap.
- The EU Kids Act will reverse the burden of proof, requiring platforms to prove they are safe for minors.
- Australia became the first country to ban social media for under-16s in December 2025.
- The Kids Act may take years to implement as it requires approval from individual EU member states, some of which have already enacted their own bans.
- France attempted a ban for under-15s but it was struck down by its Constitutional Court.
- The EU Kids Act could provide a single rulebook similar to the Digital Services Act and AI Act, simplifying compliance for companies.
- Von der Leyen acknowledges AI's potential benefits but stresses the need to address massive risks like unprecedented hacking.
- She plans to invite leading AI labs to discuss slowing down AI development, as urged by heads of Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI.