EU proposes raising minimum age for social media account creation to 15

The European Union has announced a regulatory framework aimed at protecting minors from potential harms associated with social media use. Under the proposed guidelines, only individuals aged 15 and above would be permitted to create independent accounts on social networking platforms without parental involvement.

The initiative represents an attempt by EU authorities to establish standardized protections across member states, addressing growing concerns about the impact of social media on child development, mental health, and online safety. The age threshold of 15 has been selected as a benchmark for digital maturity and capacity to understand platform terms of service.

The restrictions would apply broadly to major social media platforms operating within EU jurisdiction. The proposed regulations seek to balance children's right to digital participation with protective measures that limit unsupervised access to content and data collection practices targeting younger users.

Implementation of the measures would likely require compliance from technology companies offering social media services in Europe. The EU framework is expected to establish verification mechanisms to enforce age restrictions, though specific technical requirements remain under development.

The proposal follows mounting pressure from child welfare advocates, researchers, and policymakers concerned about social media's role in youth mental health issues and problematic online behaviors. EU officials indicated that additional safeguards for users under 15 who access platforms through parental accounts are also under consideration.