Europe moves toward teen social media limits

European lawmakers advanced a proposal that would bar children under 16 from accessing social media without parental consent.

European lawmakers advanced a proposal that would bar children under 16 from accessing social media without parental consent. The proposal would prohibit use entirely for those under 13, reports The Record, a news site by cybersecurity firm Recorded Future.

In a newly approved opinion, the European Parliament called for an EU-wide framework to strengthen child protections online, including privacy-focused age verification and stricter enforcement of existing digital rules.

While nonbinding, the measure is intended to shape forthcoming legislation such as the Digital Fairness Act. The proposal would also address practices including targeted advertising, influencer marketing, addictive design elements, and virtual currencies in games.

The move follows similar initiatives in countries including France, Spain, and Australia, reflecting mounting concern over social media’s impact on youth mental health and exposure to harmful content. Lawmakers emphasized the need for "privacy-first age assurance," algorithmic transparency, and digital literacy, while recognizing parental responsibility.

The opinion also flags risks from artificial intelligence, including misinformation and manipulation, as part of a broader youth safety strategy.

Written by

Sharon Florentine Editorial Director

Sharon Florentine is the editorial director for CyberRisk Alliance’s Channel Brands and acting editorial director for SC UK. She is responsible for setting strategy and editorial direction and developing content for news, features, analysis and other written content, moderates live webcasts, and oversees research projects. Sharon has previously held key editorial, content and leadership positions at DevOps.com, Security Boulevard, CIO.com, Ziff Davis Enterprise, and CRN, among others.