Estonia Urges EU to Focus on Platform Design Rather Than Banning Children from Social Media

The European Union is set to announce a new age-based restriction on social-media use for minors on September 16. Officials have indicated that the limit under consideration will be either 13 or 15 years of age. The proposal follows a broader EU effort to address concerns about the impact of online platforms on younger users.

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Estonia’s Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta told AFP that the bloc should require social-media companies to modify their services instead of prohibiting children from accessing them. Pakosta argued that, as members of the information society, children’s best interests and rights should guide platform design, which would benefit society as a whole. She emphasized that the responsibility for safeguarding minors lies primarily with the technology firms that operate the services.

Don’t ban children from social media, Estonia tells EU

Pakosta pointed to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) as a mechanism to make platform-level recommendations legally binding. The DSA already underpins investigations into Meta’s Facebook and Instagram as well as TikTok, with regulators urging those companies to alter “addictive” design features. Estonia proposes that the DSA’s provisions for child protection be strengthened to compel compliance across the sector.

Don’t ban children from social media, Estonia tells EU

If the EU adopts a binding age limit, platforms may need to implement age-verification systems and redesign user interfaces to reduce exposure to harmful content for younger users. Estonia’s stance suggests a shift toward regulatory pressure on platform architecture rather than outright bans. The upcoming announcement on September 16 will clarify whether the EU will adopt Estonia’s recommendation or proceed with a more restrictive age-based prohibition.

Don’t ban children from social media, Estonia tells EU