The restriction may affect TikTok and Instagram. For teenagers aged 13–14, special "mini-accounts" with parental controls are planned. These are intended to limit communication with strangers and the time spent in front of screens. More independent access to social media may be allowed from the age of 15. The preliminary text of the initiative states that the rules could apply not only to social media but also to video hosting platforms, online games, and AI chatbots. Educational services will not be restricted. Special control features will be provided for parents and guardians. Von der Leyen also stated that unrestricted access to the internet for children from an early age may be linked to insomnia, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. According to her, children need time to grow up and interact outside of the digital environment. "Our children need time to grow up. To grow alongside others. To face all the emotions and choices that come with real life. They even need time to get bored," von der Leyen noted in the European Parliament. Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a Europe-wide ban on social media for children under 15. In Australia, a similar restriction is already in place for users under 16, while in the UK it is set to come into effect in spring 2027.
