European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen has unveiled proposals in the European Parliament on Wednesday to ban children under 13 from using social media platforms.
The proposed law allows limited and supervised online access for young people until they reach 15 years old. This decision follows months of work to shield children from online features designed to keep users hooked.
The move joins a global push where over 20 countries have taken steps to block or restrict young people from accessing online networking sites. Seven of those nations already enforce their restrictions or plan to start enforcement soon, focusing on minors under 15 or 16 years old.
National laws active around the world
Governments across different continents have already started stopping children from using social media platforms. Australia became the first country to start a total ban for people under 16 in December 2025. However, data released in August showed that many teenagers found ways around the rules.
In Asia and South America, other nations have passed their own internet safety rules. Indonesia banned social media for under-16s in March, while Malaysia started enforcing a similar law in June.
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Brazil began enforcing rules in March that make social media platforms check the age of users and connect under-16 accounts to parents. China started setting time limits and curfews on online gaming in 2019, extending those rules to streaming platforms and social media in 2023.
Other countries are preparing to start their active enforcement dates soon. The United Arab Emirates announced a ban for people under 15 last month, which will take effect in about a year.
Turkey passed a law in April to ban under-15s from social media, with enforcement set for late 2026. In the United States, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed around 12 child protection laws on September 10, including a rule taking effect in early 2027 that stops platforms from offering addictive features to under-16s.
Proposed laws across Europe and North America
Inside the 27-nation EU block, several individual countries are moving forward with their own rules. Greece announced plans in early April to stop under-15s from using social media starting January 2027. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports restrictions or bans, with an expert panel presenting options for age-based or platform-specific limits.
Austria and Slovenia are preparing laws for people under 14 and 15, while Denmark announced plans in October 2025 to ban several platforms for under-15s. Ireland warned it might pass its own laws if the EU does not act.
Outside the EU, Britain plans to ban social media for under-16s by early 2027 under a measure planned by former prime minister Keir Starmer. That plan also includes a night-time curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds.
Norway plans to introduce a bill by the end of the year to ban access for people under 16. Canada introduced a bill in June setting the minimum age at 16, while New Zealand presented a bill in August to stop platforms from serving under-16s. A government commission in Sweden suggested an under-15 ban by early 2028.
Lawmakers in Portugal, Spain, and Italy are also considering bills in their parliaments to restrict social media access for teens under 15 or 16.
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