The European Commission has confirmed it will proceed with plans to ban social media for children under 13 and limit access for older children, saying platforms are 'depriving children of their childhood'.
Key facts
- The EU is moving forward with plans to ban social media for under-13s.
- Access for older children would also be limited.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a draft law.
- Platforms named include Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
- Von der Leyen said big tech must prove the safety of their products.
The European Union is moving closer to banning social media for children under 13, after the head of the European Commission confirmed the plans would go ahead. According to the Guardian, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a draft law on Wednesday aimed at addressing online harms faced by young people.
Von der Leyen said social media apps were “depriving children of their childhood” and argued that big tech platforms needed to prove the safety of their products, the Guardian reported.
Beyond the outright ban for under-13s, the plans also include limiting access for older children, according to Sky News. The measures are intended to protect youngsters from online harm.
Sky News reported that the platforms in scope include Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
The announcement marks a step forward in the EU’s efforts to regulate how children interact with social media, placing the burden on technology companies to demonstrate that their products are safe for younger audiences.
The sources do not specify a timeline for when the draft law would take effect or the precise mechanisms that would be used to enforce the ban and access limits.
Why it matters
If adopted, the draft law would change how children across the EU access major social media platforms and would require technology companies to demonstrate that their products are safe for younger users.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EU proposing?
According to the Guardian and Sky News, the EU plans to ban social media for children under 13 and limit access for older children, through a draft law announced by the European Commission.
Which platforms would be affected?
Sky News reported that the measures would apply to platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Why is the EU introducing these rules?
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said social media apps were 'depriving children of their childhood' and that big tech platforms needed to prove the safety of their products.