EU launches age verification app as Europe moves to restrict children’s access to social media

EU launches age verification app as Europe moves to restrict children’s access to social media
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The European Union is preparing to roll out a new age verification application aimed at restricting children’s access to social media platforms, as policymakers across Europe move toward tighter regulation of online services for minors.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the app is ready for deployment and will allow users to verify their age using official identification documents such as passports or ID cards. She said the system is designed to confirm age “anonymously” and strengthen enforcement of existing digital rules.

Von der Leyen said the EU is acting with “full speed and determination” to ensure online platforms protect children, warning of “zero tolerance” for companies that fail to uphold children’s rights. The tool is expected to be compatible with both mobile devices and computers and will be part of broader efforts to regulate digital access for minors.

The initiative comes amid growing momentum across Europe to establish minimum age limits for social media use, typically ranging between 13 and 16 years. At least a dozen countries, including both EU and non-EU states such as the United Kingdom and Norway, are considering or have already introduced such restrictions.

EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen said the bloc is developing a coordinated system to harmonise age verification across member states.

Officials acknowledged that technical challenges remain, including the possibility of users bypassing restrictions through tools such as VPNs, but said the aim is to reduce unintended exposure of children to online platforms rather than enforce total online surveillance.