An upper age limit of 16 would be set, although parents would be able to give consent after 13 – Image: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/picture alliance
The European Parliament has signaled its support for stricter online protections for social media, saying minors are increasingly vulnerable. While the proposal has no legal force, some countries are already proceeding with measures.
The European Parliament has agreed to a resolution calling for a default minimum age of 16 for accessing social media platforms, arguing it would ensure “age-appropriate online engagement.”
The move comes amid growing EU debate about how to shield minors from harmful content and addictive digital features.
What did lawmakers decide on social media for minors?
A draft of the measure, released in October, urged “the establishment of a harmonised European digital age limit of 16 years old as the default threshold under which access to online social media platforms should not be allowed unless parents or guardians have authorised their children otherwise.”
Lawmakers adopted the non-legislative report by 483 votes in favor, with 92 against and 86 abstentions.
They also recommended setting a harmonised EU digital age limit of 13, under which no minor would be permitted to access social media. The same minimum age would apply to video-sharing platforms and so-called “AI companions,” whose popularity among adolescents has raised concerns in several EU states.
The resolution is not legally binding and does not create or change policy. Any future legislation would require a full proposal from the European Commission, followed by negotiations with EU governments and the European Parliament.
Supporters say a higher digital age threshold could reduce exposure to harmful content and limit addictive design features. Critics argue that enforcement would be difficult and might drive children to circumvent age checks. The Commission has not indicated whether it plans to pursue the proposal.
Most major platforms — including TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat — require users to be at least 13. Child-protection groups say the safeguards are weak, and data from several European countries show large numbers of under-13s with accounts.
In Australia a trial of enforcement methods has been underway since January, with the full ban taking effect on December 10 – Image: Nick Fancher/Unsplash
What rules do individual countries have on social media for children?
Since 2018, children in Belgium must be at least 13 to create an account without parental permission.
In France, a 2023 law requires parental consent for under-15s to open social-media accounts, though enforcement has lagged due to technical issues. In 2024, a Macron-commissioned panel recommended tougher rules — including banning smartphones for children under 11 and restricting internet-enabled phones for those under 13.
Germany has decided that children aged 13 to 16 may use social media only with parental consent. Child-protection advocates say enforcement is insufficient and call for better implementation.
Children under 14 in Italy need parental permission to create social-media accounts; from 14 onward, no consent is required.
The Netherlands has no legal minimum age for social-media use, but since January 2024 mobile phones have been banned in classrooms to reduce distractions, with exceptions for digital teaching, medical needs or disabilities.
In October 2024, Norway proposed raising the age of consent for social-media terms from 13 to 15. Parents would still be allowed to approve use for younger children. According to officials, half of Norway’s nine-year-olds already use some form of social media.
Earlier this month, Denmark‘s government has reached an agreement to implement a minimum age requirement of 15 years old on certain social media platforms.
Away from the EU in Australia, a law passed in November 2024 requires platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to block minors under 13 from logging in. Violations can trigger fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32.1 million). A trial of enforcement methods has been underway since January, with the full ban taking effect on December 10.
In Britain, the Online Safety Act — adopted in 2023 and enforced since 2025 — mandates stricter age-appropriate protections on platforms like Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. However, the UK has not introduced a clear legal age limit for minors’ social-media use.
(DW.com/NAN 9-12-25)
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