The European Commission proposed restricting access to social networks for children under 16

The European Commission said that social networks will have to prove that their platforms are safe by default. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, said this would “put parents back in the driver’s seat” and give them “tools to help children navigate a safer world”.

The initiative is called the EU Kids Act. Under this plan, only children aged 15 and older will be able to create their own social media accounts, while a phased access system with age restrictions is proposed for younger users.

Von der Leyen had already proposed delaying children’s access to social networks in Europe, and in May said that “the debate about the minimum age for social networks can no longer be ignored”. The measure was officially outlined on Thursday, and the day before it was announced in the European Commission president’s annual address to the European Parliament on Wednesday.

Individual EU countries have already announced their own plans for restrictions on children’s use of social networks, including France and Spain.

Sources

• Source: bbc.co.uk