EU Chief Signals Potential Summer Legislation for Social Media Ban on Children

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated that the European Union may introduce legislation to ban social media access for children and teenagers by summer 2026. Speaking at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children in Copenhagen, she emphasized the urgent need to protect younger generations from the rapid penetration of technology into their lives. Von der Leyen suggested that a legal proposal could be presented following the findings of an expert panel studying social media's impact on mental health. The EU is considering various mechanisms for enforcement, including leveraging the Digital Identity Wallet framework, similar to the former Digital COVID Pass, despite privacy concerns raised by some member states. Alternatively, the bloc might adopt a model akin to France’s approach, requiring platforms like Instagram and TikTok to verify ages for users under 15. This potential ban aligns with recent restrictions implemented in countries such as Australia and Indonesia. Concurrently, the EU is utilizing the Digital Services Act to scrutinize major social media companies, threatening significant fines or bans for failing adequately to safeguard children from addiction and anxiety.