The European Union is set to propose new legislation on Thursday aimed at protecting children from the harmful effects of social media, a day after EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce an age limit for minors using such platforms.

The move follows more than a year of discussions and growing pressure from member states, including France and Greece, as well as parents across the 27-member bloc.

Von der Leyen is expected to address the issue in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, before unveiling the proposed “EU Kids Act” alongside EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen in Brussels on Thursday, EU spokesman Olof Gill told reporters.

Von der Leyen is expected to argue that social media platforms used by children should be “safe by design”, ensuring they are not addictive and removing features that encourage excessive use.

She has also been considering a complete ban on social media access for children under 13, as recommended by an expert panel, or under 15, which is the age limit sought by France.

Australia became the first country in the world to prohibit social media use by under-16s, amid growing concerns among governments and experts about the platforms’ impact on children’s mental and physical health, supported by findings from several studies.

In June 2026, the United Arab Emirates announced plans to ban social media access for children under 15, joining a growing number of countries, including Australia, Britain and Canada, that have introduced or are considering similar restrictions.

Under the cabinet resolution, social media platforms will be required to identify and disable accounts belonging to users under 15, with non-compliant platforms facing the possibility of being blocked.

The platforms will have 12 months to implement the new requirements.