European Commission panel recommends social media restrictions for under-13s

A special panel convened by the European Commission has recommended restricting access to social media and other high-risk digital services for children under 13, arguing that platforms should prove they are safe before minors are allowed to use them.

The report was prepared by the co-chairs of the Special Panel on Child Safety Online, Prof. Dr. Jörg M. Fegert and Dr. Maria Melchior, whom European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appointed in March 2026 to advise on child safety online and possible age restrictions for social media.

The panel met three times between March and June 2026 to examine scientific evidence on the impact of social media and digital environments on minors, review existing EU and national rules, and develop recommendations to better protect and empower children online.

The report uses the term ‘social media+’ to describe social media and other digital services that expose minors to potentially harmful features, including addictive design, infinite scroll, autoplay, recommender systems, persistent notifications, AI companions, video games and video-sharing platforms.

The co-chairs argue that providers, not children or parents, should bear the burden of demonstrating that their services are safe by design and appropriate for young users. Until then, they recommend restricting access for children under 13, while allowing member states to introduce additional precautionary measures for older adolescents if needed.

The recommendations also call for proportionate age-assurance systems, stronger safety-by-design requirements, limits on addictive platform features, more effective complaints mechanisms for minors and stronger enforcement of existing EU legislation, including the Digital Services Act, GDPR and AI Act.

The report also urges the EU to close legislative gaps on child sexual abuse online by adopting permanent obligations requiring providers to prevent, detect, report and block abuse, including in interpersonal communications.

Beyond restrictions, the report emphasises digital empowerment through stronger media literacy for children, parents, teachers and caregivers, greater participation by young people in policymaking, improved parental guidance, increased support for civil society organisations and helplines, and more investment in offline activities such as sports, arts and youth spaces.

The report concludes that protecting children online requires an ecosystem-wide approach involving regulators, digital service providers, educators, parents, caregivers and children themselves. It argues that children’s rights should apply online just as they do offline, balancing protection with opportunities to learn, participate and communicate.

Why does it matter?

The report could significantly influence future EU policy on children’s access to digital services, platform design and online safety. By recommending a default restriction for children under 13 and placing responsibility on providers to demonstrate that their services are safe, it shifts the debate away from parental responsibility towards platform accountability.

Although the recommendations are not legally binding, they are likely to inform future discussions on the Digital Services Act, the AI Act and wider EU child protection policies. If adopted, they could reshape how online platforms design services for younger users across Europe.

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