EU proposes social media ban for under-13s and limits for teens
The European Commission has proposed a ban on social media for under-13s and restricted access for teens, with parental oversight and time limits.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The European Commission has proposed a sweeping set of restrictions on children's use of social media, including an outright ban for under-13s and strict limits for teenagers. The plan, announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is intended to give parents more control and force tech companies to prove their platforms are safe for young users.
Under the proposals, children under 13 would be banned from having their own social media accounts. For 13- and 14-year-olds, access would be allowed only under parental supervision, with a maximum of one hour a day on any platform. The restrictions would also apply to video-sharing services such as YouTube, as well as AI chatbots and online gaming.
Officials said the measures, which have been labelled the "Kids Act" by the Commission, would shift the burden of proof onto social media companies, requiring them to demonstrate compliance with European law rather than leaving it to regulators or families to police the services. The proposal is being modelled partly on Australia's recent ban on under-16s, though the European approach is more staggered.
However, the plan is likely to face legal challenges. In France, a similar attempt last month was blocked by the country's top court, which raised concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression. European officials acknowledge that the proposals will need to be negotiated with member states and the European Parliament before they become law.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One | Sky News |
|---|---|---|
| The EU proposal would ban under-13s from social media and restrict teenagers to one hour a day with parental supervision. | ||
| France's top court has raised concerns about freedom of expression in a similar proposal. | · | |
| Teenagers aged 13 to under 15 would be restricted to supervised mini accounts with a one hour daily limit. | · | |
| The EU proposal is called the 'Kids Act'. | · | |
| The EU proposal would include video-sharing apps and AI bots. | · | |
| The EU wants social media companies to prove compliance with the proposal. | · | |
| The proposal would give the EU authority to set the rules and require platforms to prove compliance. | · | |
| The proposal would impose a total ban on social media for children under 13. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News provided a detailed breakdown of the age-based restrictions and the proposed 'Kids Act', while also noting the political context of von der Leyen's speech. It stressed that the EU wants to drive legislation rather than be led by tech companies, and mentioned that Australia is one of the few countries to have acted so far. The channel also highlighted that the proposal includes chatbots.
- “No social media under the age of 13 No personal account under the age of 15 that means from 13 to under 15 only mini accounts set up and supervised by parents or guardians with limited features and time restriction to one hour a day”
- “This is what they're calling the Kids Act”
- “She wants to make sure it is the EU that is driving legislation not being led by the social media companies”
BBC ONE West focused on the proposal as a 'staggered approach' compared to Australia's blanket ban, highlighted the inclusion of video-sharing apps and AI bots, and noted the potential legal obstacle raised by France's top court over freedom of expression. The tone was explanatory and cautious, presenting the proposal as having an uncertain path ahead.
- “the European Union has today unveiled plans to ban the use of social media by children under the age of 13”
- “European officials have been looking at Australia's ban on social media use for under-16s that kicked in at the end of last year”
- “it would be YouTube and other video-sharing apps, also AI bots and online gaming”
Broadcast Timeline
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