EU faces uphill battle to implement von der Leyen's social media ban for minors

The European Commission has unveiled the EU Kids Act, which would ban children under 13 from social media and sharply restrict access for those under 15. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says platforms must prove they are safe before minors can access them. The plan follows Australia's December 2025 ban on under-16s joining platforms like Instagram and YouTube, and now requires negotiation with national governments and tech companies over enforcement and age verification without compromising user privacy.