{"slug": "european-union-plans-to-ban-under-13s-from-social-media", "title": "European Union Plans to Ban Under 13s From Social Media", "summary": "The European Commission proposed the EU Kids Act, which would bar children under 13 from holding social media accounts and require 13- and 14-year-olds to use parental-supervised \"mini accounts\" capped at one hour per day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Wednesday in her state of the union address in Strasbourg. The framework, formally presented Thursday, would also cover video-sharing services, online games, AI chatbots and companion services, requiring large platforms to submit child-safety compliance plans or face fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover. The proposal is not yet law and must pass the EU legislative process and win approval from EU institutions and member states, a process that could take years.", "body_md": "# European Union Plans to Ban Under 13s From Social Media\n\nThe European Union is proposing bloc-wide restrictions on children’s access to social media, online gaming, and some AI services as part of a new framework aimed at strengthening online safety.\n\nUnder the proposed EU Kids Act, children under 13 would not be permitted to have their own social media accounts, while those aged 13 and 14 would only be able to use limited “mini accounts” with parental supervision and controls. Use of those accounts would be restricted to one hour a day. Children aged 15 and over would be able to create their own accounts.\n\nEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the plans during her state of the union address in Strasbourg on Wednesday.\n\n“No social media under the age of 13. No personal account under the age of 15,” von der Leyen says, [per *CNN*](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/16/europe/eu-social-media-ban-children-intl). \n\nThe legislation, formally presented by the European Commission today (Thursday), would cover more than conventional social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Video-sharing services, online games, AI chatbots, and companion services would also face new requirements.\n\nThe Commission says platforms would have to demonstrate that their services are safe for children by design. Companies would be expected to identify and address features that could encourage addictive or compulsive use, while AI services aimed at children would face safeguards intended to prevent harmful interactions and unhealthy emotional attachments.\n\n“We are reversing the burden of proof. Platforms will have to prove to us that they are safe. Because it is not about our minors accessing social media. It is about when and how do we allow social media to access our minors,” von der Leyen adds.\n\nThe proposed rules would require large online platforms to submit child-safety and compliance plans to the Commission. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 6% of their global annual turnover.\n\nThe measures would build on existing EU legislation, including the Digital Services Act and the [AI Act](https://petapixel.com/2026/07/29/eu-to-require-labels-on-realistic-ai-images-from-sunday/). The Commission says the new framework is intended to provide consistent rules across the bloc rather than leaving individual countries to establish separate age limits.\n\n“Too many children are being exposed too early to an online world they are not ready to navigate — an environment where bullying can follow you home, where every mistake can be recorded forever,” von der Leyen says.\n\nThe proposal comes as several EU countries pursue their own restrictions. [France](https://petapixel.com/2026/07/27/france-bans-social-media-for-kids-under-15-a-first-for-europe/), Spain, Denmark and Sweden are among the countries that have considered or introduced measures aimed at limiting children’s access to social media.\n\nThe proposed restrictions are not yet law. The EU Kids Act will have to go through the bloc’s legislative process and secure approval from the relevant EU institutions and member states. The process could take years, particularly as governments continue to debate how the rules should be implemented and enforced.\n\nImage creditsHeader photo licensed via [Depositphotos](https://depositphotos.com/).\n\nAffiliate Disclosure PetaPixel articles may include affiliate links; we may earn a commission if you buy through one.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/european-union-plans-to-ban-under-13s-from-social-media", "canonical_source": "https://petapixel.com/2026/09/17/european-union-plans-to-ban-under-13s-from-social-media/", "published_at": "2026-09-17 11:39:03+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-09-17 11:57:29.115927+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-policy", "ai-ethics", "ai-products"], "entities": ["European Union", "European Commission", "Ursula von der Leyen", "EU Kids Act", "Digital Services Act", "AI Act", "TikTok", "Instagram"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/european-union-plans-to-ban-under-13s-from-social-media", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/european-union-plans-to-ban-under-13s-from-social-media.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/european-union-plans-to-ban-under-13s-from-social-media.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/european-union-plans-to-ban-under-13s-from-social-media.jsonld"}}