EU weighs under-13 social media ban

Ursula von der Leyen. Image: Jennifer Jacquemart / European Commission

Almost 60pc of young children across Europe experienced emotional or psychosocial problems online, von der Leyen said.

The EU is considering banning social media for under-13s, as child safety on the internet takes political priority across the world.

The bloc has, over the years, targeted social media giants for their addictive designs, recommender system feeds and child safety measures with its landmark Digital Services Act (DSA) that carries a hefty penalty for offenders.

Last year, it preliminarily found Meta and TikTok breached its rules by failing to meet its standards for keeping minors safe online.