EXCLUSIVE: EU could announce social media ban for kids in September

Von der Leyen is expected to use her annual State of the Union speech to unveil plans for EU-wide age restrictions on social media 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce proposals for an EU-wide social media ban for children during her annual State of the Union address in Strasbourg on 16 September, multiple EU officials and diplomats told Euractiv.

The move would mark Brussels’ clearest political commitment yet to introducing bloc-wide age restrictions on social media after months of pressure from national governments to better protect children online.

A Commission official cautioned that the legal framework has yet to be decided. Still, the initiative is expected to pave the way for EU legislation or other regulatory measures requiring platforms to prevent children below a minimum age from holding accounts. (...)