EU Commission proposes social media ban for children under 13

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends a press conference with Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy Henna Virkkunen (not pictured) to present the EU Kids Act, in Strasbourg, France September 17, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman

STRASBOURG, Sept ⁠17 (Reuters) - European Commission President ⁠Ursula von der Leyen ‌on Thursday proposed a social media ban for children under ​13 and restricted ⁠access for those ⁠between 13 and 15 as ⁠she ‌warned about the dangers of ⁠online services to minors.

She also proposed ​a ‌series of obligations on ⁠social media, ​video sharing services, online video games, AI chatbots ⁠offering services to ​children below 18, a move that will hit Google's YouTube, ⁠Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram.

The move underscored growing concerns worldwide about the ​effect of ⁠online services on children's safety ​and health.

(Reporting ‌by Foo Yun Chee ​and Yves Herman, editing by Inti Landauro)