EU Expert Group Recommends Uniform Age Limit of 13 for Social Media

Von der Leyen: Product Safety Rather Than Parental Responsibility

At the same time, the CDU politician pushed back against an understanding in which parents bear the main task of protecting their children online. It is not a question of "wann Kinder Zugang zu sozialen Medien bekämen – sondern darum, wann die Sozialen Medien Kinder erreichen dürften." She drew a comparison to the automotive industry: "Autohersteller müssten ihre Fahrzeuge per se sicher machen," said von der Leyen. "Und wir erwarten nicht von Kindern, dass sie ihre eigenen sicheren Sicherheitsgurte entwerfen. Genauso wenig von Eltern, dass sie Airbags zu Hause einbauen. Und genau dieselbe Produktsicherheit muss auch für die großen Technologiekonzerne gelten."

The Commission President also warned against a business logic aimed at keeping young users on the platforms for as long as possible. "Social Media ist kein Spielzeug," said von der Leyen. Young people today spend on average four to six hours a day on such platforms, totaling around 20 years of life online. The status quo, "in dem wir es den großen Tech-Unternehmen erlauben, uneingeschränkten Zugang zu unseren Kindern zu haben, führt ihnen Schaden zu," she said.

The expert group recommends a tiered model: platforms that can demonstrate that they have done enough to ensure the safety of children and adolescents should possibly be accessible from age 13, while others would only become accessible from 15 or 16. One conceivable measure is the renunciation of personalized recommendations. For 13- to 18-year-olds, access to age-appropriate offerings should become gradually more independent as they grow older.

Tiered Model and Scientific Basis

For children up to the end of their second year of life, the experts advise completely against screen time. Between the ages of three and twelve (pre-puberty), the use of social media and other digital services should occur exclusively under parental supervision or in pedagogically accompanied contexts and be limited in time. Particularly during pre-puberty, girls are especially vulnerable to impaired self-worth development through body-related comparisons on the platforms.

Fegert cited data on the connection between the age at first smartphone use and later psychological distress. "Wenn ich mit zwölf ein eigenes Handy habe, ist das Risiko, mit 14 Angst oder Depression zu haben, signifikant," he said. At 13, the risk of sleep disorders in particular rises. "Es gebe keinen wissenschaftlichen Beweis, welches Altersgrenze genau die richtige sei," the researcher emphasized.

The proposals are expressly not intended as a rigid EU-wide rule without national leeway. Member states should be allowed to set stricter age limits. Fegert explained: "Länderspezifische Zugangsbeschränkungen, auch für Über-13-Jährige, könnten für die Plattformen sogar einen zusätzlichen Anreiz bieten, schneller Angebote zu entwickeln, die von Anfang an sicher sind." In Brussels, this line is seen as a concession to those countries planning national solo efforts.

National Initiatives: France, Greece, Austria

In parallel to the Brussels process, several member states are pressing ahead with their own plans. France wants to enact a ban for under-15-year-olds from September 1, though the EU Commission is demanding adjustments to EU law. Greece is planning such a ban for under-15-year-olds starting next year. Spain, Denmark, and Austria are also working on corresponding regulations. Australia was the first country worldwide with an age limit of 16 and is already gathering experience.

That experience is, however, mixed. In Australia, roughly half a year after the regulation was introduced, it became apparent "dass noch immer viel zu viele Kinder diese Altersgrenze umgehen." Large platforms barely verified age, and many minors circumvented the block via VPN services, other people's accounts, or fake profiles. "Teils gilt es unter Jugendlichen aber auch als «cool», die Barrieren zu umgehen, haben Forscher herausgefunden."

Estonia as a Counterpoint and the German Debate

Austria plans to put its own regulation with a limit from age 14 into force at the beginning of 2027. A corresponding draft law from the Media Ministry is essentially complete and is currently being coordinated with the coalition partners, according to the Vice Chancellor's Office. There too, technical age verification via ID Austria or a comparable app is being discussed as a possible building block. Digitalization State Secretary Alexander Pröll emphasized: "Der vorgelegte Bericht bekräftigt unser Vorhaben. Die Vorlage eines Gesetzesentwurfs bis Ende Sommer, Anfang Herbst 2026 ist immer noch sehr lange hin. Kinder und Jugendliche brauchen jetzt Schutz und solange es auf EU-Ebene keine geltende Regelung gibt, bleiben wir bei unserem nationalen Ansatz."

Within the EU, the project does not meet with approval everywhere. Estonia fundamentally rejects a rigid age limit and sees the handling of social networks as a task for parents and schools. "Das kleine baltische Land steht mit dieser Position in der EU mehr oder weniger alleine da," observers write. There are also critical voices in Germany. Bavaria's Digital Minister Fabian Mehring (Free Voters) objected: "Die meisten großen Plattformen haben schon heute ein Mindestalter von 13 Jahren, das Problem ist also nicht, dass Regeln fehlen, sondern ihre mangelnde Durchsetzung."

The Left Party warned against the fundamental rights infringements of mandatory age controls. Nicole Gohlke, the faction's education policy spokesperson, criticized corresponding procedures as a massive intrusion. Supporters such as CSU leader Markus Söder signaled openness: "Ich finde es richtig, dass wir an der Stelle über Beschränkungen reden." Söder also welcomed the fact that the report no longer contains more far-reaching restrictions up to age 16, as have been discussed or implemented in Australia. Anja Weisgerber (CDU/CSU) declared: "Der Vorschlag des EU-Expertengremiums unterstreicht den Handlungsbedarf für mehr Kinderschutz im Netz."

Legal Framework: Digital Services Act and EUDI Wallet

Legally, the EU relies on the Digital Services Act (DSA), which has been in force for two years and obliges particularly very large platforms such as Google, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X to adopt stricter protective measures for minors. Article 28 requires operators to take "geeignete und verhältnismässige Massnahmen" to protect minors. The EU Commission can already demand that large platforms technically enforce certain age limits and is currently running a proceeding against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

The Commission is also working on a data-protection-compliant app for age verification based on the EUDI Wallet. It is intended to confirm that a user belongs to an age group without name or date of birth being passed on to the platforms. "Unsere App zur Altersverifizierung ist eines der Werkzeuge, um dies zu ermöglichen. Sie ist benutzerfreundlich, datenschutzkonform," according to Brussels. The experts emphasized at the same time that any age control must be proportionate and data-secure and must not enable additional data collection about young users.

Von der Leyen framed the project in major political terms. "Der Jugendschutz und die sozialen Netzwerke sind eine der grössten Herausforderungen, denen Regierungen gegenüberstehen," she said. Changes take time, "so wie jeder kulturelle Wandel. Genauso wie es Zeit brauchte, Alkohol am Steuer zu verbieten, genauso wie es Zeit brauchte, Sicherheitsgurte in Autos einzuführen." Education policymakers such as Austrian Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (Neos) also see an urgent need for action: "Ein Hauptgrund für die steigende Zahl ist Social Media