Parents, privacy, parliaments: The battle begins for von der Leyen’s social media ban

On May 17, 2026, European Union President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a proposed bill aimed at restricting social media use for minors. The European Commission seeks to limit children under 13 from creating accounts on social media platforms and severely restrict access for those aged 13 to 15. The goal is to address the potential harm caused by platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which have been linked to issues such as addiction, social isolation, and depression.

Von der Leyen, a medical doctor and mother of seven, has been a vocal advocate for this cause since her 2025 State of the Union speech. The EU's proposed measures, known as the EU Kids Act, come in response to Australia's national social media ban in December 2025, which aimed to block under-16s from creating accounts on major platforms.

However, the impact of the Australian ban has been limited, as many kids still manage to access social media due to the platforms' lack of compliance. While child rights campaigners and some EU governments argue that blanket bans violate young people's rights to information and expression, the EU's proposal aims to strike a balance between protecting minors and respecting privacy rights.

The legislation targets various online channels beyond traditional social media, including AI chatbots and video games. Balancing the interests of different EU member states presents a significant challenge. Paris and Berlin are calling for bans on under-15s and under-13s, respectively, while maintaining a more stringent approach.

Estonia and Rome have publicly opposed such bans, while the Netherlands prefers a minimum age of 15. Despite the various differences, the EU hopes to finalize the rules within 8 to 12 months, with implementation set for mid-2028, including a six-month transition period.