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2026-07-15 09:48:11
[EU Considers Following UK and Australian Legislation: Restricting Children's Use of Social Media, Calling for "Safe Design" on Platforms] (1) The European Union is considering following the example of the UK and Australia in restricting children's access to social media platforms. A 156-page report submitted to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recommends that children under 13 be prohibited from using social media (unless a parent or teacher is present), and that teenagers aged 13 to 18 be allowed to use platforms with built-in safety features (such as limiting endless scrolling). (2) The report also calls for the development of an EU "Guideline for Influencer Behavior," the prohibition of addictive features, the introduction of a "teenager mode" to disable targeted advertising, and the setting of ethical standards for AI "companions"; children under 3 should have no screen contact at all. The European Parliament rapporteur stressed that platforms must eliminate features that promote addiction and manipulative behavior, and that safety should be integrated into the design of services. (3) Von der Leyen is expected to announce new legislation in her annual State of the Union address in September. The UK has already banned children under 16 from using social media, becoming the fifth country to implement a comprehensive ban (after Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, and Canada). British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged that the move had costs but considered it necessary. Australia stipulates that platforms (including Reddit, Twitch, etc.) that fail to delete accounts belonging to individuals under the age of 16 can face fines of up to AU$49.5 million.
