EU Commission Pitches Strict Social Media Restrictions for Under-15s
A leaked document reveals the European Commission is set to propose barring under-15s from social media without parental consent, alongside new safety-by-design rules for risky online services.
AI disclosure: Summarised and contextualised from a named source by an AI model with editorial rules; links to original report.
Key Takeaways
- The European Commission is set to propose banning under-15s from social media without parental consent in a Thursday release.
- The leaked legislative draft also mandates safety-by-design rules for online services like AI chatbots and video games.
- The move aims to harmonise fragmented national digital regulations across the European single market.
According to a leaked document obtained by Euronews, the European Commission is scheduled to publish a legislative proposal on Thursday that would bar minors under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms without explicit parental consent. The upcoming draft framework also introduces stringent safety-by-design obligations targeting high-risk digital environments, specifically encompassing interactive video games and artificial intelligence chatbots. These measures represent a significant escalation in regulatory oversight regarding minors' digital habits and platform accountability. This initiative arrives amid a broader European Union push to bolster digital sovereignty and protect youth online, building upon existing frameworks like the Digital Services Act. Across several member states, national governments have increasingly debated or implemented fragmented age-verification rules. By introducing a harmonised European approach, the Commission aims to prevent regulatory fragmentation within the single market while addressing growing cross-border concerns over children's mental health, online addiction, and exposure to harmful digital content. For citizens, businesses, and policymakers, the proposed legislation signals major upcoming compliance challenges for tech companies operating in Europe, who will be forced to overhaul user verification and product design standards. Consumer advocacy groups and parent associations are likely to scrutinise the practical enforcement of parental consent mechanisms. Following Thursday's official publication, the proposal will enter the standard EU legislative procedure, where the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union will debate and potentially amend the text before adoption.
Source: Euronews. Read the original report ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the European Commission publish the proposal?
The legislative proposal is scheduled to be published on Thursday, following the leaked document obtained by Euronews.
What age group is affected by the proposed social media restrictions?
The proposed restrictions specifically target children under the age of 15, requiring parental consent for social media access.
Source ledger
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This brief is based on reporting by Euronews.