Alarmed by rising rates of depression, anxiety, and cyberbullying linked to social media use, European governments are moving decisively to restrict children's access to online platforms. This national-level action is unfolding as the European Commission prepares to roll out a technical tool intended to support a more unified approach across the bloc's digital single market.
A Patchwork of National Bans
Driven by what French legislators termed a "health emergency," member states are not waiting for Brussels to act. France has already enacted a law banning social media for users under 15. Greece's Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announced a similar ban for under-15s, set to take effect in January 2027, following data showing 75% of Greek primary school children were active on social media. Spain has announced plans for an under-16 ban to "tame the digital Wild West," while Austria, Denmark, and Slovenia are drafting legislation for ages 14, 15, and 15 respectively. Italy and Ireland are also exploring bans for under-15s and under-16s.
This wave of legislation follows a precedent set by Australia in 2025 and is partly motivated by a landmark US court verdict in March 2026 that held major tech platforms liable for addictive app designs. The political momentum is strong; in Greece, 80% of the public supported the ban after the US ruling.
The Commission's Technical Response
Amid this flurry of national activity, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced last week that a new EU "age verification app is technically ready and soon available for citizens to use." The system is designed to allow users to prove their age to access online platforms without sharing other personal data. "It will allow users to prove their age when accessing online platforms, just like shops ask for proof of age for people buying [alcohol]," von der Leyen stated.
This tool aims to address the ineffectiveness of self-reported birthdates. However, some in the European Parliament sense hesitation from the Commission. Christel Schaldemose, the rapporteur for a report on an EU-wide minimum age for social media, noted, "I don't know if they're delaying [actions] on purpose, but I think that they are too slow. Like this we end up with a fragmented internal market because so many countries have already suggested an age limit."
The Scale of the Problem
The push for restrictions is backed by stark data on usage and harm. A 2025 Eurobarometer survey found 93% of EU citizens are concerned about children's mental health, with 92% identifying cyberbullying as the primary online threat. Research indicates pervasive use: in 2022, 96% of 15-year-olds in the OECD were on social media, with 37% spending over three hours daily on platforms. A 2025 Joint Research Centre (JRC) study found female teens use social media more, at 42% compared to 32% of males.
The JRC warns that uncontrolled usage harms mental health, raising depression and anxiety levels. Its study reveals 60% of young females show depression symptoms compared to 35% of males, and 65% experience anxiety versus 41% of males. Harmful content—violent, sexualised, or promoting eating disorders—can affect brain development and social behaviours. A 2024 World Health Organisation report found 11% of adolescents in Europe, Central Asia, and Canada show problematic social media use, with higher rates among girls (13%) than boys (9%).
Greece's government cited "lifeless" students and sleep deprivation, observed after a 2024 school smartphone ban, as a catalyst for its broader social media law. The move also follows domestic scandals, such as the recent immunity stripping of MPs in a fraud investigation, which has heightened scrutiny on all areas of public policy.
Legal Framework and Opposition
While EU-wide rules like the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) establish baseline protections for minors online, national bans represent a more aggressive approach. They set strict age limits and increase accountability for tech companies, with platforms bearing the main responsibility for compliance. National regulators enforce rules through oversight and fines.
Not everyone agrees with the prohibitive strategy. Opposing political figures, such as members of Spain's Vox party and some Italian lawmakers, view the bans as excessive government intervention. They argue that education, parental control, and digital literacy would be more effective than outright restrictions—a perspective shared by some consumer rights advocates.
The debate occurs against a backdrop of other global crises demanding the EU's attention, from energy price instability linked to Middle East conflict to security challenges that have prompted figures like Sanna Marin to urge integrating Ukraine's battlefield lessons into European defence strategy.
As national laws come into force and the Commission's verification tool is deployed, Europe is embarking on a large-scale experiment in digital child protection. The outcome will test the balance between safeguarding mental health, preserving a coherent digital market, and defining the limits of state intervention in the private digital lives of young citizens.
