European Union moves to ban social media for children under 15

European Union officials have unveiled plans to restrict access to social media platforms for young adolescents, with new rules set to prohibit children under 15 from independently establishing accounts on popular networks. The regulatory framework represents one of the EU's most stringent approaches to online child protection to date, reflecting growing concerns among policymakers about the impact of social media on youth mental health and development.

Under the proposed restrictions, only users aged 15 and above would be permitted to open their own social media profiles without parental involvement or authorization. The measure applies across EU member states and is intended to create a uniform standard for protecting minors from potential harms associated with unregulated social media use.

The initiative follows mounting evidence linking excessive social media engagement to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges among younger users. Child safety advocates have long called for age-based restrictions, arguing that platforms currently lack adequate safeguards for vulnerable populations.

The EU's digital regulatory landscape has become increasingly strict in recent years, with the bloc imposing substantial fines on tech companies for privacy violations and content moderation failures. This latest proposal demonstrates the EU's commitment to comprehensive digital governance that prioritizes child welfare alongside consumer protection.