The European Union is set to unveil new measures aimed at protecting children from the harmful effects of social media, including possible age restrictions on access to the platforms.
The proposed legislation, known as the “EU Kids Act,” is expected to be presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen in Brussels on Thursday.
The move follows more than a year of discussions and growing pressure from several EU member states, parents and child-protection advocates over the impact of social media on young people.
Von der Leyen is expected to argue that social media platforms used by children should be “safe by design”, with features that encourage excessive or addictive use removed.
The EU is also considering whether children below the age of 13 should be barred from accessing social media platforms. Another proposal under consideration would raise the minimum age to 15.
The debate comes amid growing international concern over the effects of social media on children’s mental and physical wellbeing.
Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16, while other countries have also been considering tighter restrictions.
In June 2026, the United Arab Emirates announced a minimum age of 15 for social media accounts. Under the measure, platforms would be required to monitor and disable accounts belonging to children below the stipulated age.
The proposed EU measures could therefore mark a major step towards stronger regulation of children’s access to social media across the bloc.
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