Strasbourg: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that the European Union intends to prohibit children under the age of 13 from accessing social media. This measure is part of a comprehensive initiative to bolster protections against risks associated with digital platforms.

According to Emirates News Agency, von der Leyen unveiled the plan during her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament. The initiative aims to implement varied levels of protection based on age. Children aged between 13 and under 15 would have access only to limited-feature 'mini accounts,' which parents or guardians would need to set up and monitor, with usage restricted to one hour per day.

For teenagers aged 15 to 18, social media platforms would be mandated to incorporate safe-by-design measures. Additionally, technology companies would need to prove that their platforms are secure for children. The proposed regulations are set to be formally introduced as the EU Kids Act on Thursday, emphasizing graduated age-based protections for social media usage.