EU special panel on child safety recommends 3 levels of online restrictions

On Monday, 13 July 2026, a European Commission special panel on online child safety published its final report (summary findings). Co-chaired by special advisers Professor Dr Jörg M. Fegert and Dr Maria Melchior, the panel was tasked with advising on methods to protect minors online, such as assessing the merits of social media age restrictions, and promoting platform safety-by-design as well as supporting parents and educators in helping minors as they access and navigate the online world.

The report recommends distinct, age-appropriate guidelines for digital service and social media use:

For children aged zero to two, the panel advises avoiding screens to protect early language, sensory, and neurobiological development, urging parents and caregivers to prioritise face-to-face interactions and limit their own device use to prevent developmental interference.

For children aged three to twelve, the report recommends supervised use of age-appropriate services, with schools providing limited access to educational devices to foster digital literacy, whilst parents gradually support digital autonomy.

For adolescents aged thirteen to eighteen, the findings support the autonomous use of social media, provided platforms are safe by default, with safety features such as restrictions on infinite scrolling. Regulators are urged to consider precautionary measures until these standards are met, alongside providing minors with dedicated support and complaint networks.

In a statement on Monday, President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged that "it will take time to embed the cultural change," but that to protect childhood, we must first address the risks and examine the types of platforms that pose harm. "The evidence shows that this is mainly social media platforms, but also other providers with age-inappropriate and addictive features. So think of it as social media plus. And when we have this clearly defined category, I believe we need to consider phased and gradual access for different age ranges. Because childhood will not wait. And once it is gone, we cannot give it back," she added. 

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