EU targets social media giants with new laws to protect children from addictive design

EU targets social media to protect children, von der Leyen says

BRUSSELS, May 12 (Reuters) - The European Union is working on regulations to reign in on social media's business models to protect children and youth, European Commission's President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday. The many damages caused to children and youth by exposure to social media are no accident "but the result of business models that treat our children's attention as a ⁠commodity," she said in a speech in Copenhagen. She added the EU is specifically targeting TikTok, X and Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab Instagram and Facebook. "We are taking action against TikTok and its addictive design, endless scrolling, autoplay and push notifications. The same applies to Meta, because we believe Instagram and Facebook are failing to enforce their own minimum age of ⁠13," she said. The Commission has also started proceedings against X for the use of its Grok artificial intelligence tool in creating sexual images of women and children. Later this year, the Commission ⁠will target "addictive and harmful design practices" such as "attention capture, complex contracts, subscription traps", she said. Von der Leyen also advocated for strict rules ⁠banning social media access for teenagers younger than a certain age. "The question is not whether young people should ⁠have access to social media, the question is whether social media should have access to young people," she said. Reporting by Inti Landauro, Editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

EU to crack down on TikTok, Instagram's 'addictive design' targeting kids on social media

The EU is clamping down on social media firms and plans to target "addictive design" features on TikTok and Instagram as governments worldwide look to protect children from the harms of social media. The region will take action against certain features on social media platforms later in the year, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children in Denmark. "We are taking action against TikTok and its addictive design - endless scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications. The same applies to Meta, because we believe Instagram and Facebook are failing to enforce their own minimum age of 13," Von der Leyen said. "We are investigating platforms that allow children to go down 'rabbit holes' of harmful content - such as videos that promote eating disorders or self-harm," she added. The EU's executive arm has also developed its own age verification app, which has the "highest privacy standards in the world," according to Von Der Leyen. Member states will soon be able to integrate it into their digital wallets, and it can easily be enforced by online platforms. "No more excuses - the technology for age-verification is available," the EU chief said. Earlier this year, the EU Commission launched an investigation against Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter, for the spreading of sexually explicit non-consensual content of women and children generated by its chatbot Grok.

Von der Leyen opens door to EU-wide social media ban for children

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday the EU could propose a bloc-wide social media ban for children as early as this summer, amid mounting pressure from member states to strengthen online protections for minors. Support for stricter controls has grown in recent months, with France, Spain, Greece and Denmark leading calls for measures to shield children from what governments describe as addictive online platforms. "We are witnessing the lightning speed at which technology is advancing - and how it penetrates every corner of childhood and adolescence," von der Leyen told delegates at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children in Copenhagen. Several EU countries are already pursuing national legislation, although Brussels has faced pressure to maintain a harmonised approach across the bloc's single market. The European Commission has established an independent expert panel on online child safety to assess possible measures aimed at tackling issues including addiction and social anxiety among minors. "Without pre-empting the panel's findings, I believe we must consider a social media delay. Depending on the results, we could come forward with a legal proposal this summer," she said. The proposed timeline could allow Brussels to move ahead of new French legislation expected to come into force in September. The law would require platforms including Instagram and TikTok to block users under the age of 15 and suspend existing accounts. One of the main challenges for the EU has been finding a common technical solution for age verification. Platforms would be expected to use the system to ensure only users above a certain age can access their services. Von der Leyen said "discussions about a minimum age for social media can no longer be ignored", referring to an EU age-verification app modelled on the bloc's EU Digital COVID Certificate system. While the Commission has formally recommended the app to member states, several governments have reacted cautiously. Cybersecurity experts have also raised concerns over potential technical vulnerabilities. The EU is not alone in considering tougher restrictions on children's social media use. Australia and Indonesia have already introduced similar measures. Meanwhile, Brussels has placed platforms including Instagram and Snapchat under scrutiny under the Digital Services Act over concerns they failed to protect minors adequately. The bloc is also considering banning certain addictive design features under the proposed Digital Fairness Act. "We all know that sustainable change does not happen overnight. But if we are slow and hesitant, it will be another entire generation of children that pays the price," von der Leyen said.

EU targets social media giants with new 'addictive design' law

Read the keynote address here and the Digital Fairness Act here. The European Commission has announced the Digital Fairness Act, (DFA) which seeks to address endless scrolling, AI-generated harmful content, and violations of age limits on TikTok, Meta, and X. The Act may also introduce a minimum age requirement. The European Union took decisive action on Tuesday to address the influence of major social media platforms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced new legislation targeting design features that attract young users. At the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children in Copenhagen, von der Leyen stated that the upcoming DFA will address "addictive and harmful design practices," including endless scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications, which are designed to maximize engagement at the expense of children's wellbeing. TikTok, Meta, and X face immediate scrutiny: The Commission confirmed it is already conducting active investigations into three of the world's largest platforms under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Von der Leyen stated that Instagram and Facebook are not enforcing their minimum age requirement of 13. The Commission has also initiated proceedings against X regarding its Grok AI tool, which has been linked to the generation of sexual images of women and children. Spokespersons for all three companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Von der Leyen's speech was supported by ongoing regulatory action. On February 6, 2026, the Commission issued preliminary findings that TikTok breached the Digital Services Act. This marks the first instance of EU enforcement focusing on the harmful design of a platform rather than illegal content, data protection, or competition. The formal investigation, launched on February 19, 2024, examines TikTok's compliance in several areas. The Commission concluded that TikTok must fundamentally redesign its service -- for instance by disabling infinite scroll over time, introducing mandatory screen-time breaks including during night hours, and overhauling its recommender system. TikTok now has the right to examine the investigation files and submit a written defence. These preliminary findings do not prejudge the final outcome. A sweeping indictment of platform business models: Von der Leyen emphasized that the harms children face online are not accidental, but the result of profit-driven design. "Sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addictive behaviour, cyberbullying, grooming, exploitation, suicide -- risks are multiplying fast," she said. "These risks are the reality of the digital world. They are not accidental. They are the result of business models that treat our children's attention as a commodity." The Commission cited scientific research showing that design features which continually reward users with new content can cause compulsive behaviour and reduce self-control, especially among minors and vulnerable adults. What will the Digital Fairness Act do: The proposed Digital Fairness Act, expected before the end of 2026, will build on and significantly expand the DSA. Key measures include strict limits on the deployment of artificial intelligence, a ban on addictive design techniques, and new requirements for children's privacy and online security. Von der Leyen also noted that the EU has developed its own age-verification app, modelled on the EU Digital COVID Certificate, which she said meets the highest privacy standards globally. Member states can integrate this app into their digital wallets to simplify platform enforcement. However, several governments have responded cautiously, and cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about potential technical vulnerabilities. A minimum age for social media -- decision coming this summer: Von der Leyen indicated the Commission may propose a bloc-wide minimum age for social media access as early as this summer, based on recommendations from an expert advisory panel. The EU has developed an age-verification application that is technically ready for public use. She noted that "discussions about a minimum age can no longer be ignored," although member states have shown mixed enthusiasm for Brussels-led verification tools. Oct 2025: Preliminary findings on TikTok's researcher data-access obligations adopted Dec 2025: TikTok advertising-transparency strand closed via binding commitments. Feb 6, 2026: Commission issues preliminary finding: TikTok's addictive design breaches the DSA -- a first for EU enforcement. March 2026: US jury finds Meta and YouTube liable for addictive design. May 12, 2026: Von der Leyen announces Digital Fairness Act and possible minimum age proposal this summer.

EU chief turns up heat on social media's 'addictive' design

BRUSSELS, May 12 (Reuters) - The European Union is working on new rules to protect children from the addictive designs of social media such as TikTok, Meta and X, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday. "Sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addictive behaviour, cyberbullying, grooming, exploitation, suicide. Risks are multiplying fast," von der Leyen said in a speech in Copenhagen. "These risks are the reality of the digital world. They are not accidental. They are the result of business models that treat our children's attention as a commodity." Von der Leyen said the Commission will specifically target "addictive and harmful design practices" in its Digital Fairness Act (DFA), due to be proposed towards the end of the year. The DFA would also set strict limits on the use of artificial intelligence in social media, she said, while she advocated for a minimum age for social media access. "The question is not whether young people should have access to social media, the question is whether social media should have access to young people," she said. The new regulation will strengthen and expand the Digital Services Act (DSA) which requires large platforms to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content, she said. Under these rules, the Commission is already investigating TikTok, X and Meta Platforms' Instagram and Facebook. "We are taking action against TikTok and its addictive design, endless scrolling, autoplay and push notifications. The same applies to Meta, because we believe Instagram and Facebook are failing to enforce their own minimum age of 13," Von der Leyen said. The Commission has also started proceedings against X for the use of its Grok artificial intelligence tool in creating sexual images of women and children. Spokespeople at the three companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Inti Landauro, Editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Bart Meijer, Alexandra Hudson)