European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced that the European Union’s age verification app for online platforms is ready and will soon be deployed, as efforts intensify to restrict children’s access to social media.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, von der Leyen said the initiative is part of a broader push to enforce digital safety regulations and hold platforms accountable for protecting minors online.
The app, which will be compatible with both mobile devices and computers, will require users to verify their age by uploading official identification such as passports or ID cards, while maintaining anonymity.
The development comes amid growing global momentum for stricter social media regulations targeting minors. Several European countries, along with non-EU nations such as the United Kingdom and Norway, are considering or have introduced laws setting minimum age limits for social media use, typically between 13 and 16.
EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen said the bloc is working on a coordinated framework to ensure consistent implementation of age verification systems across member states.
While officials acknowledged that the system could be bypassed using tools such as virtual private networks (VPNs), they emphasised that the goal is to reduce accidental exposure of children to harmful content rather than enforce strict surveillance.
The European Parliament has already adopted a resolution calling for a minimum social media age of 16 across the bloc, with a final decision on binding legislation expected after recommendations from a child safety panel later this year.
