EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to regulate social media platforms’ “addictive design” features targeting children, focusing on TikTok and Instagram. The initiative aims to restrict infinite scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications that exploit young users’ attention. Von der Leyen emphasized that platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Facebook are failing to enforce age restrictions, allowing minors to bypass checks despite a 13-year minimum age policy. A pending legal proposal could emerge by summer after consultations with child safety experts.

The EU is developing an age-verification app with “world-leading privacy standards,” designed to integrate with digital wallets for seamless enforcement. This tool would prevent underage access without compromising data security. The move follows a U.S. court ruling linking infinite scrolling and autoplay to teen mental health crises, intensifying global pressure on platforms. Meta faces intensified scrutiny after the EU Commission confirmed minors easily circumvent age gates, violating the Digital Services Act.

U.S. tech giants like Apple, Meta, and Google have faced over $7 billion in EU fines for antitrust violations, prompting President Trump to threaten tariffs against EU digital taxes. The Commission also investigated X (Twitter) for AI-generated harmful content via its Grok chatbot. Meanwhile, Australia’s social media ban for under-16s has inspired similar proposals in Spain, France, and the U.K., signaling a worldwide shift toward stricter youth protections.

These actions reflect growing demands for ethical tech design and accountability. By targeting algorithmic engagement tactics and enforcing age verification, the EU aims to redefine how platforms balance innovation with child safety. Critics argue the measures may stifle U.S. tech dominance, but regulators insist the focus remains on protecting vulnerable users.