Today (13 July 2026), the European Commission presented its Internet Safety for Children Report, produced by the EU’s Special Committee on Internet Safety for Children. The report outlines urgent concerns about children’s digital wellbeing—and delivers a stark message: unregulated screen time and algorithm-driven platforms are harming young users across Europe.
A Call to Prioritise Parental Guidance Over Algorithms
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that children should grow up guided by parents—not by engagement-optimising algorithms. ‘In Europe, we believe children should be raised with parental guidance, not algorithms designed to hold their attention. Social media is not a playground,’ she said.
Alarming Usage Patterns and Harmful Consequences
Data in the report shows that children and teenagers across the EU spend between four and six hours daily in front of screens. Nearly 60% have experienced emotional or psychosocial difficulties online—including sleep deprivation, anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content.
Three Key Priorities for Action
1. Platform Responsibility
The report places primary responsibility on digital platforms. Tech companies must embed safety into product design from the outset—removing addictive features like attention-grabbing algorithms and deceptive interface practices. The EU is already enforcing the Digital Services Act (DSA) to hold platforms accountable.
2. Age Verification and Age-Appropriate Access
Effective age verification mechanisms are essential to ensure children only access social media when developmentally appropriate. The EU’s approach aims to protect privacy while empowering parents to play an active role in their children’s online lives.
3. Minimum Age Limits for Social Media Use
Just as there are legal age limits for driving or alcohol consumption, the report argues for a minimum age threshold for social media use. It recommends zero screen exposure for children under two years old, and supervised, time-limited screen use for older children.
The European Commission will now analyse the findings and present a formal legislative proposal after summer.