The European Union is moving to curb youth use of social media by setting age restrictions and banning addictive features, aiming to shift platform responsibility as part of a broader safety push.

A legal proposal to strengthen or expand these measures could come by the summer, pending findings from the Special Panel of experts on Child Safety Online.

Enforcement tools under the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act are being used to investigate platforms like TikTok, Meta, and X for potential harm to children and non-compliance.

The measures are framed as a response to rising digital age risks and the need for a robust regulatory framework to protect minors.

Global responses and tensions over regulatory approaches are highlighted, including U.S. concerns about EU rules influencing American platforms.

Safety by design is emphasized: platforms should embed protections from the outset rather than add them later.

This initiative forms part of a broader EU digital safety drive under the DSA and related scrutiny of U.S.-based tech firms operating in Europe.

The DFA aims to strengthen and expand the DSA, increasing platform responsibilities to address illegal and harmful content and to protect minors.

Officials stress that raising the age limit does not absolve platforms of responsibility, and safety must be designed into products under the DSA.

She reiterates that the DSA will be the backbone for accountability, with violators facing consequences even as global scrutiny continues.

The EU actions sit within a wider context of global digital policy, including U.S. actions on digital service taxes, sanctions, and protections for American tech innovators amid international moves.

President von der Leyen defends the DSA as the enforcement framework, signaling ongoing regulatory action despite criticism from the U.S. administration.