European Union Plans Age Limit for Children's Social Media Use
With a newly prepared draft law, children under the age of 13 will be banned from using social media, while special parent-supervised account models will be introduced for young users.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that age regulations will be introduced for social media platforms under the EU Children's Act, which aims to enhance online safety for children.
Age Limits Under the EU Children's Act
During her State of the Union speech at the European Parliament General Assembly, Ursula von der Leyen shared the details of the new regulation aimed at protecting children. Accordingly, children under the age of 13 will strictly not be allowed to use social media platforms.
Parent-Supervised Mini Account Model
Children between the ages of 13 and 15 will be prevented from opening personal accounts on their own. Individuals in this age group will only be able to use mini accounts created and supervised by their parents or guardians.
Daily Usage Limits and Age Groups
Within the framework of the planned new rules, the daily social media usage time for children in the 13-15 age group is projected to be limited to one hour. For young users between the ages of 15 and 18, safe design obligations will be imposed on the platforms.
Obligations for Social Media Companies
Von der Leyen drew attention to the addictive features of platforms and children encountering harmful content. It was emphasized that companies must prove they are completely safe for children.