Von der Leyen Praises Australia's Social Media Ban as Inspiration At a high-profile event in New York on 24 September 2025, President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted Australia's pioneering law banning social media for children below a certain age. She acknowledged it as a bold move by a 'middle power' and expressed Europe's intent to observe and learn from its implementation. Von der Leyen framed this social media restriction as a defense against manipulative, profit-driven algorithms that harm children through cyberbullying, self-harm encouragement, and online predators. The speech situated the issue within a broader debate about protecting children’s wellbeing in an increasingly digital world.
EU's Concrete Steps and Future Plans Von der Leyen cited the European Commission’s ongoing initiatives, including efforts on age verification technologies currently pilot tested in five member states (France, Spain, Greece, Denmark, and Italy). She underscored the growing momentum among member states advocating for a legally defined 'digital majority age' before accessing social media. To advance policy in this area, von der Leyen announced she will establish a panel of experts comprising parents, teachers, scientists, and youth representatives to assess feasible measures at the EU level.
Political and Stakeholder Implications The proposal presents a potential increase in EU regulatory powers concerning digital access and children's online protection. It intensifies the debate between enhanced EU intervention versus national discretion in managing digital risks. For EU technology firms and social media companies, stricter age verification and access controls may raise operational compliance costs and complicate user onboarding.
Parents and educators may view these policy directions positively, seeing stronger protections against online harms and tools to empower parental control of children's digital lives. Conversely, some young users might perceive restrictions as limiting their online social engagement. National authorities will be tasked both with supporting cross-border pilot programs and implementing future regulatory frameworks, signaling increased administrative roles.
Overall, von der Leyen’s address signals a cautious but determined orientation toward stronger EU-led protections for children online, balancing innovation benefits with safeguarding vulnerabilities.
← Atlas › News › Digital & Communication