New Facts: Experts Recommend Age Restrictions for Children

On July 13, 2026, the EU's Special Panel on Child Safety Online formally recommended that social media platforms set a minimum age of 13 and prove their services are safe for children.

The expert panel said platforms should adopt safer-by-design features and face a proof-of-safety obligation, pairing those measures with an EU-wide under-13 age floor for social media access.

The Eastleigh Voice reported on July 14 that EU experts urged restricting social media use for children under 13 and said the European Commission is expected to present next steps in response.

Both reports align that the recommendations target social media platforms across the European Union and center on the under-13 threshold combined with requirements to demonstrate child-safety protections.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources