EU unveils new rules to protect children under 13 online
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed new rules to protect children online, including a social media ban for users under 13.
STRASBOURG, France — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has put forward a wide-ranging plan intended to protect children from various online dangers. Under the newly unveiled proposal, children under the age of 13 would face an outright ban from accessing social media platforms. The initiative marks a significant regulatory push by the European Union to establish stricter boundaries for minors navigating online services and platforms.[1][2][3][4]
In addition to barring children under 13 from social media networks, the European Commission's proposal introduces comprehensive rules requiring digital and online service providers to create safer accounts tailored for children. These measures aim to ensure that companies actively alter their platforms to reduce potential digital hazards and shield young users from harms encountered online.[1][2][3][4]
The newly announced measures follow a growing global trend of governments implementing digital protections and usage limits for young people. Similar initiatives and restrictions have been adopted or introduced in multiple countries around the world, including Australia, the United Kingdom, China, India, and Turkey, as well as across several individual member countries within the European Union itself.[1][2][3][4]
