EU moves closer to social media ban for under 13s

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Published: 2026-09-16T14:51:18.189Z • Permanent link

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has announced a draft law aimed at banning social media apps from accessing the personal data of children under the age of 13. The move, which has been years in the making, marks a significant step forward in the EU's efforts to protect young people from the potential harms of social media. Von der Leyen stated that the proposed law would prevent apps from collecting and using the personal data of minors without their consent, thereby depriving them of their childhood and undermining their right to a childhood free from exploitation.

The proposal is the result of a concerted effort by EU lawmakers, who have been working tirelessly to address the growing concern about the impact of social media on young people. In 2020, the European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs launched an investigation into the use of personal data by social media companies, which led to a series of high-profile hearings and public consultations. The investigation highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the way that social media companies handle the personal data of minors. Von der Leyen's announcement is a response to these calls for action and reflects the EU's commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of young people.

The draft law is expected to be debated by EU lawmakers in the coming months, with some experts predicting that it could be a game-changer for the social media industry. The proposed ban would apply to all social media apps that target children under the age of 13, including popular platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Von der Leyen's office has confirmed that the proposal would also include provisions for parents and guardians to opt-out of data collection and provide alternative platforms for their children to use.

The proposed social media ban for under 13s has significant implications for the Government & Regulatory domain, particularly in the context of the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen data protection laws. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been a major driver of change in the EU's data protection landscape, and the proposed social media ban is likely to be seen as a key component of the EU's broader strategy to protect the rights of young people. Research communities, such as the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), have been critical of the social media industry's handling of personal data, and the proposed ban is likely to be seen as a major victory for advocates of stronger data protection laws.

The proposed ban is also likely to have significant implications for the social media industry, which has been under increasing pressure to reform its practices in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people. Companies such as Facebook and Instagram have already taken steps to address these concerns, but the proposed ban is likely to be seen as a major challenge to their business models. The ban could also have significant implications for the wider tech industry, particularly in terms of the development of new technologies and services that are designed to protect the rights of young people.

The proposed social media ban for under 13s is part of a broader trend towards greater regulation of the tech industry in the EU. In recent years, the EU has taken a number of steps to strengthen data protection laws, including the introduction of the GDPR and the establishment of the EDPB. The proposed ban is also part of a growing trend towards greater regulation of the social media industry, which has been driven by concerns about the impact of social media on young people. In the United States, for example, there have been calls for greater regulation of the social media industry, particularly in terms of the handling of personal data.