site.btaEuropean Parliament Calls for EU-Wide Minimum Age of 16 for Social Media Access

The European Parliament has called for the introduction of a harmonized minimum age of 16 for accessing social media, as well as for stronger measures to protect minors online. On Wednesday, MEPs adopted the report with 483 votes in favour, 92 against and 86 abstentions, expressing deep concern about the physical and mental health risks faced by children and adolescents in the online environment.

The report calls for stronger protection against manipulative and addictive design practices that undermine children’s ability to concentrate and prevent them from using online content for meaningful purposes.

Parliament proposes an EU-wide harmonized minimum age of 16 for access to social media, video-sharing platforms and AI "companions". Children aged 13 to 16 may be granted such access only with explicit parental consent.

The European Parliament further calls for a ban on the most harmful addictive practices, a ban on websites that do not comply with EU rules, a prohibition on engagement-based recommender algorithms for minors, full enforcement of the Digital Services Act with respect to online video platforms, and a ban on gambling-style features such as loot boxes and other randomized gaming functions.

According to data cited in the report, 78% of children aged 13 to 17 check their devices at least once an hour. A 2025 Eurobarometer survey indicates that more than 90% of Europeans consider actions to protect children online to be an urgent priority.