---
title: "Europe Should Protect Children Without Banning Social Media, Says ITIF"
summary: |-
  Following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s statement calling for a minimum age restriction on social media access, ITIF issued the following statement from Senior Policy Manager Ash Johnson.
date: "2026-07-14"
content_type: "Press Releases"
canonical_url: "https://itif.org/publications/2026/07/14/europe-should-protect-children-without-banning-social-media-says-itif/"
---

# Europe Should Protect Children Without Banning Social Media, Says ITIF

WASHINGTON—Following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s [statement](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_26_1590) calling for a minimum age restriction on social media access, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, issued the following statement from Senior Policy Manager Ash Johnson:

> *The European Commission’s continued commitment to developing privacy-preserving age assurance technologies is a step ahead of other jurisdictions that require users to turn over personal information to access parts of the Internet. Secure, anonymous age verification could be a valuable tool for protecting children online while minimizing the threat that most age verification methods pose to free speech and privacy.*

> *However, using these technologies to impose sweeping restrictions on young people’s access to social media would undermine their access to information, expression, and digital participation. Once the EU opens the door to restricting children from certain online services, it is unlikely to stop with social media. Online gaming, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence could be next, until there are no spaces left for children online.*

> *As Europe advances its age assurance framework and other online safety measures, policymakers should strive for a better balance between protecting children and preparing them to responsibly engage with our modern digital world.*

**Contact:** Nicole Hinojosa, [nhinojosa@itif.org](mailto:nhinojosa@itif.org)

---
*Source: Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)*
*URL: https://itif.org/publications/2026/07/14/europe-should-protect-children-without-banning-social-media-says-itif/*