• A new digital tool aimed at strengthening child safety online
• Wider European push to enforce stricter age limits on social media use

Ursula von der Leyen announced that an age-verification app for users on digital platforms is now ready and will soon be rolled out across EU member states, as part of broader efforts to limit children’s access to social media.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, she said the European Union is “moving quickly and decisively to enforce its digital laws,” warning that platforms failing to adequately protect children will face strict accountability.

According to the Commission, the app will allow users to verify their age by uploading identification documents such as passports or ID cards in a privacy-preserving manner. It will be compatible with smartphones and computers and is intended as a support tool for parents and educators to help shield children from inappropriate content.

The move comes amid growing debate across Europe over introducing age restrictions on social media, following similar steps in countries like Australia, which recently imposed tighter limits on minors’ access to certain platforms.

Officials say several EU member states, along with non-EU countries such as United Kingdom and Norway, are considering age thresholds ranging between 13 and 16 for social media use.

The Commission is also working on a coordinated European framework to standardize verification systems across countries, despite technical challenges — including attempts to bypass restrictions using virtual private networks (VPNs).

It stressed that the goal is not to monitor users, but to reduce unintended exposure to harmful content. The European Parliament has previously called for setting a minimum age of 16 for social media use across the bloc.