MOSCOW, July 2 (HS/RIA Novosti) - The European Commission may announce proposals for a possible ban on children’s use of social media in the European Union in September, Euractiv reported on Thursday, citing several EU officials and diplomats.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce proposals to ban children from using social media in the EU during her annual State of the Union Address in Strasbourg on September 16.

Commission officials have already warned the governments of EU member states that they should expect an announcement from von der Leyen regarding the initiative in September. As an unnamed commission representative said, the legal basis for this ban has not yet been determined. An advisory group tasked with analyzing measures to protect children online is set to present its report on July 13, the report said.

In recent years, an increasing number of countries have been seeking to limit the influence of social media on the younger generation. Effective December 10, 2025, the Australian government has banned the use of the Twitch streaming platform by individuals under the age of 16. Similar restrictions will also be introduced in Australia for other major social media platforms.

Authorities in Denmark, Spain, Greece, Turkey, France, and the United Kingdom have also announced similar plans. On February 18, Bloomberg reported, citing government documents, that Ireland was also considering the possibility of imposing age restrictions on social media users.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar