Why is this idea spreading now? The short answer is this: many governments think the old system is failing children. Most big apps already say users should be at least 13. But in April 2026, the European Commission said Meta was still failing to stop some children under 13 from using Facebook and Instagram. In May 2026, Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is now going after social media business models that pull children in with endless scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications. (commission.europa.eu)

Health worries are another big reason. The World Health Organization said problematic social media use among teenagers in Europe rose from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022. The WHO also linked this kind of use to less sleep and worse school results. In the United States, the Surgeon General warned that young people who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. (who.int)

So now, many places are moving from warnings to rules. In Australia, since December 10, 2025, major social platforms must take reasonable steps to stop people under 16 from creating or keeping accounts. In France, a 2023 law says social networks must refuse sign-ups from children under 15 unless a parent says yes. New Zealand also has a bill that would require platforms to stop under-16s from getting access. (esafety.gov.au)

And the EU is building new tools too. The European Commission says its age-check app is ready, and it wants countries to roll it out by the end of 2026. So, this is why the movement is growing: stronger fear of harm, weak old rules, and new technology that can finally check age more easily. (commission.europa.eu)