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European Union will propose a new "Kids Act" to restrict children's access to social media, introducing different levels of protection by age, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sept. 13.
Speaking to the European Parliament in Brussels, von der Leyen said the Commission would present the legislation the following day.
"No social media under the age of 13. No personal account under the age of 15," she said.
Under the proposed framework, children between 13 and under 15 would be limited to "mini accounts" set up and supervised by parents or guardians, with restricted features and a daily time limit of one hour. Users between 15 and 18 would be covered by "safe design" requirements that platforms must implement.
Von der Leyen said the proposal was driven by concerns over social media's effect on children, including sleep loss, anxiety, bullying and self-harm linked to addictive digital design.
She said the legislation would also shift responsibility onto technology companies. "We are reversing the burden of proof. Now, platforms will have to prove to us that they are safe," she said, adding that the issue extends beyond whether minors can access social media to the conditions under which platforms are allowed to reach them.
"Europe has the power to act. It is us who decide the rules, not the tech," she said.
Von der Leyen added that addictive digital design affects adults as well as minors, and said the Commission plans to propose a broader "Digital Fairness Act" later.
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