European Commission proposing a ban on social media for children

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a blanket ban on social media for children under 13.

The proposed ban will look to introduce guardian-chaperoned “mini accounts” for children aged 13 to 15. There will also be a ban on online games and chatbots.

The aim of the policy will be to tackle addiction and protect minors from risks online. The policy will look at a phased and gradual approach to access.

Before becoming official law, the proposal will go to a vote among all 27 EU member states. However, there may be roadblocks in specific member states.

France’s top court knocked back a law banning social media for children under 15; this was done on freedom of expression grounds.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “I am aware that many perceive the power of Big Tech as overwhelming and impossible to roll back. I disagree. We do not have to accept addictive features. We do not have to accept children being drawn into ever more extreme content. We do not have to accept that girls have their photos used for AI-generated sexualized images.”

Manfred Weber, Leader of the European Parliament’s largest political group, said: “Elon Musk will not like it, but probably that is a reason for doing it.”

Further information is available via Associated Press, originally reported by Sam McNeil and Kelvin Chan.