European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that, under the new legislation aimed at protecting children, a complete ban will be imposed on those under 13, while phased restrictions will apply to those under 15.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined the details of the proposed “EU Children’s Act,” which aims to protect children from the negative effects of social media, announcing that a complete ban will be imposed on children under 13, while those under 15 will be barred from creating personal accounts. Speaking at the European Parliament, von der Leyen stated that the legislative proposal, to be officially presented on Thursday, will place children under a tiered protection framework based on their age groups. According to the draft, children under 13 will be completely barred from accessing social media platforms. Children between the ages of 13 and 15 will only be able to access these platforms through “mini accounts,” which can only be created under parental supervision, have limited features, and allow for no more than one hour of use per day.
The burden of proving safety will fall on tech companies
Pointing out that the addictive algorithmic structures of online platforms lead to serious problems in children, such as sleep disorders, anxiety, and peer bullying, von der Leyen said that the burden of proof in the regulatory framework will be directly transferred to the companies. Von der Leyen said, “We are reversing the burden of proof; platforms will now have to prove to us directly that their systems are safe for children. The issue is not merely that children are accessing the virtual environment, but under what conditions these platforms are reaching our children.”
Safe design requirement for ages 15–18
It was noted that strict measures will also be implemented for minors aged 15 to 18 under the regulation. It was reported that social media companies will be required to implement “safe design” models that eliminate algorithmic features that encourage excessive use and screen addiction among this age group.