Why did the European Commission block Austria’s proposed social media ban for children under 14?

The Commission said it would postpone national draft laws that overlap with future harmonized rules. It believes separate national laws could produce different age limits across EU member states and reduce the urgency of agreeing on a bloc-wide law.

What age limits does the European Commission’s proposed EU Kids Act set for children’s social media access?

The Commission proposed banning children under 13 from social media and allowing only limited, supervised access until age 15. EU countries and the European Parliament are expected to negotiate the proposed rules, with the Commission hoping for a deal in the next few months.

Why might France and Greece be treated differently from other EU countries seeking national social media restrictions for children?

France notified Brussels of its proposed law before the bloc-wide legislation was put forward, and Greece was able to pass its own rules because they had been drafted long before September. The Commission asked France to rework its proposal, but its spokesman would not say whether France could enact it.

EU hits pause on country-level social media bans for children

Listen

Summary

The European Union blocked Austria’s proposed ban on social media for children under 14 in Brussels on Thursday, saying it would postpone national rules that overlap with planned bloc-wide legislation. The European Commission proposed rules last month to ban children under 13 from social media and allow limited, supervised access until age 15. The EU says separate national laws could create differing age limits and slow negotiations on the EU Kids Act. France and Greece may be exceptions, while the Commission has yet to decide on proposals from Italy and Slovakia.

Key Facts

EU spokesman Thomas Regnier said the Commission had decided to postpone overlapping draft national laws for 12 months.
The Commission hopes EU countries and the European Parliament will reach an agreement on the new rules in the next few months.
France notified Brussels of its proposed law before the bloc-wide legislation was put forward, and Greece’s rules were drafted long before September.
The Commission asked France to rework its proposed law, but it is not expected to be blocked.
Regnier declined to say whether France would be prevented from enacting its national legislation.

By AFP

Published Oct 29, 2026 10:29 pm KST

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Union said Thursday it does not want any more national-level bans on social media before a pan-European law is approved, as it blocked draft rules put forward by Austria.

Under EU law, member states must notify the European Commission to ensure their bills do not break the bloc's rules. Austria wanted to ban children under 14 from social media, but the EU said no.

"The commission has decided to postpone for 12 months any draft national laws overlapping with the future harmonized rules," EU spokesman Thomas Regnier said.

The European Commission last month proposed to ban children under 13 from social media, and permit only limited, supervised access until the age of 15.

The EU believes allowing countries to move ahead with national laws would divide the bloc, creating varying age-limits among member states.

Brussels also fears EU countries will not rush to pass the bloc-wide law if they have their own country-level rules in place.

"We need to now focus on the negotiations of the EU Kids Act and to ensure an effective enforcement of our rules," Regnier said.

The commission hopes EU countries and the European Parliament will reach a deal on the new rules in the next few months.

There will, however, be exceptions to the EU's decision.

Although the commission demanded France's proposed law be reworked, it is not expected to be blocked because Paris notified Brussels of the law before bloc-wide legislation was put forward.

And Greece has been able to pass its own rules, drafted long before September.

Regnier would not be drawn on whether France would be prevented from enacting its national legislation.

The EU has yet to deliver verdicts on bans by other EU states including Italy and Slovakia.

Explore More