EU Plans Social Media Access Ban for Children Under 13 Across Member States

The European Union is advancing a comprehensive initiative to restrict social media and similar digital services for children under 13 across all 27 member countries. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, announced that the Commission will review expert panel recommendations and present a practical proposal likely in September after the summer. The recommendations propose that children below 13 will not have unrestricted access to social media platforms and related digital services; instead, limited access would be allowed only with parental, caregiver, or educational supervision.

The experts’ definition of restricted services extends beyond traditional social networks to include online games, AI-based chatbots, and services combining social communication, algorithmic recommendations, and features designed to prolong usage time. Potential restrictions may target infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, frequent notifications, and recommendation systems that encourage extended content consumption. A Europe-wide survey found that youths spend an average of 4.5 hours online on school days and over 6 hours on weekends, with 90% reporting at least one negative symptom such as headaches, eye strain, or concentration difficulties linked to screen use.

A key challenge is verifying users’ ages, as children currently bypass restrictions by falsifying birthdates. The expert team suggests solutions that confirm age groups without revealing full personal details to social networks. This EU move aligns with a global trend: Australia enforces bans for children under 16, and countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, and the UAE are also implementing or promoting age restrictions.

In Israel, no nationwide ban currently exists. A private bill introduced in February 2026 aims to prohibit children under 14 from opening or operating social media accounts but has yet to advance in the Knesset.