# EU Follows UK, Australia on Youth Social Media Bans — Expert Available 

July 15, 2026 • News Releases 

Recently, the European Union released a report detailing a plan to ban children from social media, similar to policies in Australia and the United Kingdom. [David Inserra](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Fdavid-inserra/1/0100019f67036770-0e778ba0-ea84-43a9-927b-d2cc9076c6c7-000000/1NgueG0PnnHosr0ybHU8V-Pg1js=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmFhYjMwMjljZGZjNzQ4NWMwMWQyNDFiZTZjNTI1MzI1Ojc6MmM2NTo2NWMxYmZmOWY2ZDU0ZDYxMWNmOGU5MTRiZDIyZTUxMmQ5YWIwY2E2ZmQ4NGRhZjVhMTZlNTk2ODE4ZGM2M2M4Omg6VDpO), a fellow for free expression and technology at the Cato Institute, has done extensive work on this issue.

You can find his previous work on social media bans below:

- [The UK Embraces Big Brother to Save the Children](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Fuk-embraces-big-brother-save-children/1/0100019f67036770-0e778ba0-ea84-43a9-927b-d2cc9076c6c7-000000/xyG8rpNL4jiH_oUoYUwgrtfPXpc=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmFhYjMwMjljZGZjNzQ4NWMwMWQyNDFiZTZjNTI1MzI1Ojc6ZmJkZToyMTBiMTVlOTg3ZWI1M2RmODg4YzBmOTMyNjM4OWI2NmY5ZmEyOTBlYmU0NDlhNTgyMGM3OWFmMGEzOTUxYTk4Omg6VDpO)
- [Australia’s Under 16 Social Media Ban: A Warning for Online Speech and Security Around the World](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Faustralias-under-16-social-media-ban-warning-online-speech-security-around-world/1/0100019f67036770-0e778ba0-ea84-43a9-927b-d2cc9076c6c7-000000/ODU4EYl8VIQNnSing6LzdyM2LtU=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmFhYjMwMjljZGZjNzQ4NWMwMWQyNDFiZTZjNTI1MzI1Ojc6YWUyMDo0MjYzMTBlMzU2MGI0YmMxMTE0NmIxZWVkMDJlZmM5NzM1ODMyMDE2OWFhYzNjM2I1YTVmYjFjYTUyZDZjZmViOmg6VDpO)
- [The Kids Are Alright in Australia, No Thanks to the Social Media Ban](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Fkids-are-alright-australia-no-thanks-social-media-ban/1/0100019f67036770-0e778ba0-ea84-43a9-927b-d2cc9076c6c7-000000/UhDAr9MgzUjdTas_pKA7wnhNQxQ=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmFhYjMwMjljZGZjNzQ4NWMwMWQyNDFiZTZjNTI1MzI1Ojc6ZmM0ODoxMGYyMmE4Y2IwOTJlYTdmNjYwOTQ3MzdiOGRhZmZiMGFmNWI3OWE3MGRlYjIwZGUzNTEwYWQyNjQxY2M4YjNlOmg6VDpO)
- [Policymakers Should Stop Going After VPNs to Enforce Internet Age Restrictions](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Fpolicymakers-should-stop-going-after-vpns-enforce-internet-age-restrictions/1/0100019f67036770-0e778ba0-ea84-43a9-927b-d2cc9076c6c7-000000/HjzNOrDhXDKBhIjRnvz3T4eLTYM=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmFhYjMwMjljZGZjNzQ4NWMwMWQyNDFiZTZjNTI1MzI1Ojc6YjM4Yzo2NDJiOTEyMGE0ODM4ZjA0MmM4OGZhZGUwYTdmMzc5NzEyOGJhZThjNjBlNzZhNjg3MTdkZDg1YzE5NDA2YzIxOmg6VDpO)

To speak with Inserra, contact [Christopher Tarvardian](mailto:ctarvardian@cato.org).

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