The European Commission said it will postpone for 12 months any draft national laws that overlap with its planned harmonized rules on children’s access to social media. The decision blocked Austria’s proposal to ban under-14s from social media platforms. Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier said the pause is needed so member states focus on negotiating the EU Kids Act rather than creating a patchwork of differing age limits. Last month the Commission proposed banning children under 13 from social media and allowing only limited, parent-supervised mini accounts with restricted features until age 15. Brussels fears that national rules already in force would reduce pressure to pass the bloc-wide law and complicate enforcement across the single market. Exceptions apply to measures notified before the EU proposal: France’s draft is expected to proceed after reworking, and Greece’s earlier rules stand. Decisions on Italy, Slovakia, and other countries remain pending.
The European Commission said it will postpone for 12 months any draft national laws that overlap with its planned harmonized rules on children’s access to social media. The decision blocked Austria’s proposal to ban under-14s from social media platforms. Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier said the pause is needed so member states focus on negotiating the EU Kids Act rather than creating a patchwork of differing age limits. Last month the Commission proposed banning children under 13 from social media and allowing only limited, parent-supervised mini accounts with restricted features until age 15. Brussels fears that national rules already in force would reduce pressure to pass the bloc-wide law and complicate enforcement across the single market. Exceptions apply to measures notified before the EU proposal: France’s draft is expected to proceed after reworking, and Greece’s earlier rules stand. Decisions on Italy, Slovakia, and other countries remain pending.