Story perspectives

EU to Draft Online Safety Law After Youth Crisis

7/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Commission will review the panel’s recommendations and propose online safety legislation after summer.
The panel found kids spend four to six hours on social media and that almost 60 percent report emotional or psychological difficulties.
It recommends banning screen use for children under three, restricting social-media for those under thirteen, requiring safety features for 13-18-year-olds.
Ursula von der Leyen said firms, not parents, bear duty of care as safety-critical makers.

History

Historical Context

The 1998 COPPA law required parental consent for data on users under 13, and the FTC’s 2019 $5 billion fine against Facebook highlighted enforcement gaps. Reflecting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child’s definition of anyone under 18, the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen proposes screen-time limits for under-three and social-media bans for under-13, extending a historic trend toward legal child protection.

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Story summary

The Commission will review the panel’s recommendations and propose online safety legislation after summer.
The panel found kids spend four to six hours on social media and that almost 60 percent report emotional or psychological difficulties.
It recommends banning screen use for children under three, restricting social-media for those under thirteen, requiring safety features for 13-18-year-olds.
Ursula von der Leyen said firms, not parents, bear duty of care as safety-critical makers.

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