Child Safety Online

On 13 July 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, received the final report on child safety online from the co-chairs of the special panel of experts.

In her statement to the press, President von der Leyen highlighted that the EU must do more to protect children online, arguing that social media platforms and their algorithms expose young people to addiction, harmful content and mental health risks during a vulnerable stage of development.

She stressed that tech companies, not children or parents, must bear responsibility for making their services safe. She also highlighted EU measures under the Digital Services Act and supported age-appropriate limits, underpinned by privacy-friendly age verification. Referring to the panel’s evidence, President von der Leyen says there is a stronger case for a clear minimum age for starting to use social media, with access introduced gradually by age.

For the full transcript of the President's statement, see ⁠here.