EU proposes age limit of 15 for social media account creation

A draft policy unveiled this week proposes that only children aged 15 and older will be permitted to create their own social‑media accounts. The measure, presented by the national communications regulator, is intended to tighten age‑verification requirements and to address growing concerns about the exposure of younger users to online risks. Under the plan, platforms would be required to implement robust age‑checking mechanisms and to block account registration for anyone under the specified age threshold.

Proponents of the proposal argue that the age limit aligns with research linking early social‑media use to mental‑health challenges and data‑privacy vulnerabilities. Child‑rights organizations have welcomed the move as a step toward greater online protection, while some industry groups caution that the new rules could impose significant compliance costs and potentially limit legitimate digital engagement for younger audiences. The regulator has opened a public consultation period lasting 60 days, after which it will consider revisions before finalising the rule set. If adopted, the policy would reshape how minors access social platforms across the country.