Overview
- An expert panel presented its report to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on July 13 recommending that children under 13 be allowed on social media only under parental or educational supervision.
- The report says platforms must demonstrate their services are 'safe by design' before young users gain access, shifting the burden of proof from regulators and families onto tech companies.
- The European Commission will now assess the panel’s advice and is expected to bring forward legislative proposals after the summer that could set binding age and design rules across EU member states.
- The UK has already confirmed a ban for under‑16s and in mid‑July proposed default overnight curfews and automatic disabling of autoplay and infinite scroll for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds, with users able to opt out and critics warning enforceability and age checks are weak.
- Policymakers cite Australia’s December under‑16 ban as a cautionary example because studies found widespread circumvention through shared accounts, false ages and VPNs, raising hard trade‑offs between effective age checks, privacy and accessibility.