Social Media Limits for Children in Europe: Current Status in 20 Countries

Legal regulations aimed at protecting children from the negative effects of social media have gained momentum across Europe. Alongside the 'EU Children's Act' proposal presented by the European Commission, many countries ranging from Germany to Denmark are preparing or debating their own national laws.

On September 17, the European Commission presented the EU Children's Act proposal, which envisions a full ban for children under 13 and limited, parent-supervised accounts up to age 15. According to the draft, children under 13 will not be able to access social media, while those between 13 and 15 will be able to participate with restricted accounts managed by parents. The package also includes measures such as a limit on infinite scrolling, a ban on nighttime notifications, hidden profiles, and age verification.

Germany has adopted a strategy to introduce a temporary national rule for those under 13 until the EU law comes into force. In France, Macron announced that the new draft has been sent to Brussels. In Greece, an under-15 restriction is being discussed in parliament, and if approved, it will enter into force on January 1, 2027. In Denmark, an agreement has been reached on a 15-year age limit, and the bill is planned to be submitted to parliament in early 2027.