The European Union is set to roll out a new age-verification app aimed at improving online safety for children, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Speaking on Wednesday, von der Leyen said the app is technically ready and will be launched soon as part of broader efforts across the EU to better protect minors on the internet.
She highlighted growing concerns about children’s online experiences, noting that bullying remains widespread. According to her, one in six children experiences online bullying, while one in eight admits to engaging in it.
Several EU countries—including France, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and Ireland—have already announced plans to integrate the app into their national systems. The initiative comes as governments consider setting minimum age requirements for social media use, though a reliable and privacy-compliant verification method has been lacking.
Von der Leyen also warned about the impact of social media on young users, pointing to features like endless scrolling, short-form videos, and highly personalised content, which she said can be addictive and harmful to developing minds.
She called for a unified European strategy to tackle these challenges, adding that an expert group is expected to present further recommendations by the summer.