European Commission Considers New Rules to Protect Children on Social Media

May 12, 2026, 11:00
AustraliaPolitics

Introduction

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced that the EU may introduce new laws to limit children's access to social media and remove features designed to make platforms addictive.

Main Body

The European Commission is currently studying the possibility of a 'social media delay' for minors, depending on a report from experts due in July. This move follows a global trend; for example, Australia has already banned social media for those under 16, while countries like France, Spain, Denmark, and Germany are suggesting age limits between 13 and 16. To make these rules work, the Commission is creating a secure age-verification app that can be used within national digital wallets. Furthermore, officials are focusing on 'addictive design' features, such as autoplay, push notifications, and infinite scrolling, which are used to keep users online longer. The Commission has started legal actions under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), claiming that Meta failed to block users under 13 and that TikTok's design is too aggressive. Additionally, the platform X is being investigated for allowing its Grok AI tool to create sexual images without consent. The EU may also introduce a 'Digital Fairness Act' to stop unfair subscription traps. However, these regulations have caused diplomatic tension with the United States. The Trump administration has described the EU's actions as censorship of American companies, noting that firms like Apple, Meta, and Google have paid over $7 billion in fines. Consequently, the US has considered using tariffs to respond to these penalties, and some EU officials have even faced travel restrictions to the US.

Conclusion

The European Union continues to push for strict rules for digital platforms to ensure child safety and corporate responsibility, even though this has created political conflict with the US.

Learning

🚀 The "Logical Link" Jump

At the A2 level, you usually connect ideas with simple words like and, but, or because. To move toward B2, you need Transition Markers. These are words that tell the reader how the next piece of information relates to the previous one.

Look at these three specific moves from the text:

1. Adding More Weight: Furthermore →\rightarrow Additionally

Instead of saying "And also..." repeatedly, the author uses these to build a stronger case.

  • A2 Style: "They want to stop addictive design. And also, they are checking X for AI images."
  • B2 Style: "Officials are focusing on addictive design... Additionally, the platform X is being investigated..."

2. The "Pivot" (Changing Direction): However

When you want to show a contrast or a problem, However is your best friend. It creates a professional pause before introducing a conflicting idea.

  • The logic: [Positive/Action] →\rightarrow However →\rightarrow [Negative/Conflict].
  • Example: The EU wants safety laws. However, these regulations have caused diplomatic tension.

3. The Result: Consequently

This is the 'grown-up' version of so. It shows a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

  • Cause: The US thinks the EU is censoring companies.
  • Consequently (The Result): The US has considered using tariffs.

💡 Pro-Tip for Fluency

Stop thinking of these as "vocabulary words" and start thinking of them as Road Signs.

  • If you are adding info →\rightarrow 🟢 Furthermore
  • If you are changing direction →\rightarrow 🟡 However
  • If you are showing the result →\rightarrow 🔴 Consequently

Vocabulary Learning

verification
The process of checking that something is true or correct.
Example:The app uses age verification to confirm that users are old enough.
addictive
Causing a strong desire to keep doing something, often to the point of loss of control.
Example:The platform’s addictive design keeps users scrolling for hours.
autoplay
A feature that automatically starts playing media without user action.
Example:Autoplay videos can quickly drain a user’s data allowance.
notifications
Messages sent by an app to inform users about updates or events.
Example:Push notifications remind users of new messages or offers.
scrolling
The action of moving up or down a page or screen to view more content.
Example:Infinite scrolling keeps users engaged by loading new posts continuously.
legal
Relating to the law or the system of rules that a society follows.
Example:The company faced legal action for violating privacy regulations.
aggressive
Acting in a forceful or hostile way, often to gain an advantage.
Example:The app’s aggressive marketing tactics raised concerns among parents.
investigate
To carry out a systematic or formal inquiry to discover facts.
Example:Authorities plan to investigate the safety of the new software.
consent
Permission given after being informed about something.
Example:The platform must obtain consent before using a user’s data.
fairness
The quality of being just and impartial.
Example:The new act aims to promote fairness in digital advertising.
tension
A state of mental or emotional strain or conflict.
Example:The new regulations caused diplomatic tension between the EU and the US.
censorship
The suppression or prohibition of content deemed objectionable.
Example:Many companies argue that the rules amount to censorship of free speech.