Balgarianovinite.com The European Union is considering harmonizing restrictions on access to social media until children reach a certain age, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday. She noted that experts consulted by the EC recommend that social media should remain inaccessible to kids under the age of 13.
According to von der Leyen, the proposal under consideration would allow younger children limited access under the supervision of parents or teachers and for restricted periods of time. She said the proposal can be presented after the end of the summer holidays.
She pointed to a general understanding that a minimum age should be established for children’s access to social media. The EC President cited findings from various studies showing that kids spend between four and six hours a day in front of screens, while nearly 60% have experienced emotional problems online, sleep deprivation, depression or exposure to harmful content.
It will take time to change the culture, von der Leyen said, drawing a comparison with the years it took to introduce the near-total ban on drink-driving and the mandatory use of seat belts in motor vehicles.
The EC also presented a Eurobarometer survey on Monday showing that EU citizens are deeply concerned about the risks social media poses to children. Cyberbullying and bullying were cited as the biggest concern by 71% of respondents, followed by fears of online grooming for sexual exploitation (70%), exposure to harmful content such as violence, self-harm or extremism (69%), and the misuse of children’s personal data (69%). A further 60% believe that the addictive design of online platforms poses a danger.
According to the survey, 63% of respondents want the EU to introduce common rules restricting children’s access to social media. The findings also show that 66% of European adults use social media every day to obtain information or follow political developments. Overall, 44% called for stronger action against false or misleading information online and tougher penalties for illegal content. EU Considers Harmonized Age Restrictions for Access to Social Media 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-13 10:35:46 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law