European Commission launches expert panel on child safety online
A new expert panel established by the European Commission will examine risks and protections related to children’s use of social media and advise on possible EU-wide age limits.
The European Commission has convened a Special Panel on child safety online to examine how digital technologies and social media affect minors and to advise on potential new protections across the European Union.
The panel was announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her 2025 State of the Union address. While acknowledging that digital platforms offer opportunities for learning, communication, and creativity, she also highlighted growing concerns about risks faced by young users. These risks include cyberbullying, exposure to harmful or adult content, promotion of self-harm, and platform features designed to encourage prolonged engagement.
The European Union already operates several policy instruments aimed at protecting children online. These include the Digital Services Act, which requires large platforms to reduce risks to minors, the Better Internet for Kids Strategy, and the network of Safer Internet Centres operating across member states. Additional initiatives include pilot projects on age verification systems, mental health strategies, and the recently announced Cyberbullying Action Plan.
Despite this existing framework, the Commission is examining whether additional measures are needed. The Special Panel will analyse issues such as the possibility of introducing a harmonised EU-wide age limit for social media, developing age-specific protections for children, and promoting digital literacy and responsible online behaviour.
The panel brings together specialists from several disciplines, including health, neuroscience, psychology, computer science, and child rights. It is co-chaired by Maria Melchior, Director of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), and Professor Dr Jörg M. Fegert, Director of the Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Ulm University Medical Centre.
At its first meeting on 5 March 2026, the panel reviewed available research on how children use social media and discussed regulatory approaches used in the EU and other countries. The group is expected to deliver its recommendations to the European Commission by summer 2026, which could inform future EU policy on protecting minors online.
