EU to ban social media for under 13s, curb access until 15

Strasbourg, France - The European Union will impose strict limits on social media access for children, banning the platforms for users under 13 and restricting their use until they reach the age of 15, according to plans unveiled by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. The introduction of these measures comes amid a global backlash against the negative impacts of social media on children's physical and mental health. von der Leyen, during her annual keynote address to the European Parliament, emphasized that it is Europe's responsibility to set the rules, rather than those of big tech companies.

The 27-nation bloc plans to implement a tiered approach, with no social media accounts for those under 13, and limited, supervised access for those aged 13 to 15, featuring mini accounts with restricted features and time limits. Platforms will also be required to adopt "safe design" principles for users aged 15 to 18. Von der Leyen cited the tragic case of a 14-year-old Belgian girl who took her own life after being bullied, highlighting the urgent need for action.

While children's rights and parent groups support the move, they stress that the proposed legislation must be comprehensive and effectively enforceable. Additionally, the EU intends to ban addictive design features like infinite scrolling, with potential fines of up to six percent of a platform's annual revenue for non-compliance.