{
  "id": 7997731,
  "title": "EU plans social media restrictions for children under 13",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/eu-plans-social-media-restrictions-for-children-under-13",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-17T08:36:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/world/europe/eu-plans-social-media-restrictions-for-children-under-13-1.500677881"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that the European Union intends to prevent children under 13 from accessing social media platforms as part of a broader strategy to safeguard young individuals from the risks associated with online usage. During her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen unveiled plans for age-specific limitations on social media engagement. The proposed regulations stipulate that adolescents aged 13 to under 15 would be permitted to utilize limited-functionality 'mini accounts', which would be established and overseen by their parents or guardians. Their permissible daily usage would be confined to a single hour. Users aged 15 to under 18 would be mandated to adhere to safety protocols embedded within platforms by their manufacturers. Von der Leyen emphasized that technology corporations must substantiate the safety of their platforms for minors. The European Commission is scheduled to formally submit the EU Kids Act proposal on Thursday, which is anticipated to establish varying degrees of protection contingent on age. This move follows a surge in apprehensions regarding the implications of social media on children and the perils they encounter online.",
  "summary": "European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the European Union plans to bar children under 13 from using social media as part of efforts to protect young people from online risks. Speaking during her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen outlined plans for age-based restrictions on social media use. Under the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}