EU Proposes Social Media Ban for Under 13s Amid Berlin's Interim Plans

On September 16, 2026, the European Commission announced the "EU Kids Act," a proposed regulation to fully ban children under 13 from accessing social media platforms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled this landmark proposal as part of a broader effort to regulate minors' access to digital services across the EU, according to Le Monde .

Structured Access for Older Children

For children aged 13 to 15, the EU Kids Act proposes limiting social media use through supervised "mini accounts" that parents or guardians would manage. These accounts would have strict limits, such as a maximum of one hour per day and restrictions on contact and features.

The draft regulation must pass through the European Parliament and the Council to become law, according to The Guardian .

Berlin's Approach

Contrary to reports suggesting new laws, Berlin has not introduced any interim laws specifically targeting social media use by minors. Instead, the city focuses on broader legislative efforts to strengthen child protection under existing frameworks, such as updating the Ausführungsgesetz zum Kinder und Jugendhilfegesetz (AG KJHG) to improve media literacy and prevent extremism.

At the federal level, Germany has considered a statutory minimum age of 16 for social media accounts, but has suspended this in favor of expert recommendations expected toward the end of 2026.

Complementary Measures

Alongside the EU Kids Act, the European Commission is strengthening enforcement through the Digital Services Act (DSA). Recent findings show that Meta and TikTok may be in breach of the DSA because of inadequate age verification measures. Investigations into Snapchat are also ongoing.

Furthermore, the Commission is developing a privacy preserving, interoperable age verification solution integrated with the upcoming European Digital Identity Wallets, planned for deployment by late 2026.

National Initiatives

Various EU member states are also pursuing individual measures. Denmark and Belgium are considering legal age restrictions similar to those proposed in the EU Kids Act. Elsewhere, France's previous attempt to legally restrict social media access for minors under 15 faced constitutional challenges.

Broader Context

Both digital rights groups and child protection advocates are intently watching these developments. Organizations like UNICEF advocate for platforms to ensure child safe designs without blanket bans. Meanwhile, tech firms raise concerns about privacy implications and the practicality of age verification.

The trajectory of these regulations reflects the EU's commitment to harmonizing rules across Europe while addressing the challenges technology poses in children's lives.