EU lawmakers propose social media ban for under-16s

The lawmaker push adds to growing momentum for EU-wide action to ban social media use for children. — Photo by Sanket Mishra on Unsplash

BRUSSELS: European lawmakers on Thursday called for stricter rules to protect minors online, including a bloc-wide minimum age of 16 to access social media and AI companions without parental consent.

In a report adopted by the European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, lawmakers recommended that no child under 13 be allowed to access social media, with or without parental permission.