EU panel recommends social media restrictions for children under 13

A European Commission‑appointed expert panel has urged that access to social media be restricted for children under a certain age across the European Union. The panel’s report, issued last week, cites concerns about privacy, mental health, and the potential for harmful content exposure among young users. It recommends a minimum age threshold—currently set at 16 in many member states—be lowered and that platforms implement stricter age‑verification and content‑filtering measures.

The Commission is slated to draft a legislative proposal in the coming months that would codify the panel’s recommendations. The proposed framework would require social‑media operators to provide clearer age‑verification tools, enforce stricter data‑collection limits for minors, and offer parents greater control over their children’s online activity. Member states will be invited to comment on the draft before the Commission moves to formal adoption.

If adopted, the legislation would become the first pan‑EU standard aimed at safeguarding children’s digital wellbeing. The Commission’s forthcoming proposal is expected to prompt a broader debate on the balance between protecting minors and preserving digital freedoms across the bloc.