EU official calls for social media limits for children, expert panel recommends ban under 13.

A senior European Union official on Monday called for restrictions on children’s use of social media, as a special EU panel recommended preventing access for children under the age of 13 until technology companies can prove their platforms are safe.

Growing awareness of the risks social media poses to young and developing minds has led to a wave of new restrictions around the world.

Australia, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Indonesia, and other countries have introduced bans preventing children under 16 or 15 from using platforms such as Tik Tok, You Tube, and Instagram.

Outlining her concerns about children’s use of social media, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — who trained as a doctor — said children under the age of three should have no exposure to screens at all.

For older children, she did not propose specific age restrictions, but she and the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, are expected to present proposals for consideration by the bloc’s 27 member states in the near future. Von der Leyen’s policy proposals often carry significant influence among EU countries.

A special expert panel established to examine online child safety submitted its report to the EU chief on Monday. The panel recommended limiting access to social media platforms for young children across the European Union.