Fact Check: On july 1st 2025 the eu will introduce a verification system for under 13 people to use social mediw

Fact Check: "On July 1st, 2025, the EU will introduce a verification system for under 13 people to use social media"

What We Know

The European Union (EU) is actively working on implementing a harmonized approach to age verification across its member states. This initiative is primarily focused on ensuring that users are old enough to access legally age-restricted sites, such as those offering adult content, gambling, and alcohol. The European Commission is developing a privacy-preserving, user-friendly, and interoperable age verification solution, which is initially targeting users over the age of 18 (source-1).

The EU plans to launch a new app in July 2025 to enhance child protection on social media. This app will allow platforms to verify whether users are over 18 without revealing further personal information, aligning with the EU's broader strategy to protect minors online (source-2). The app is part of a temporary solution until the EU Digital Identity Wallet becomes available by the end of 2026 (source-1).

Analysis

The claim that the EU will introduce a verification system specifically for users under 13 to use social media by July 1st, 2025, is not supported by the available evidence. The EU's current efforts are directed towards verifying users who are over 18, primarily to restrict access to adult content (source-1).

While the EU Commission is indeed launching an age verification app in July 2025, this app is designed to verify users' ages without requiring them to share personal data, and it is not specifically targeted at users under 13 (source-2). The focus remains on protecting minors by ensuring that platforms have adequate safeguards in place, rather than introducing a system specifically for under-13 users.

The sources used in this analysis are credible, including official EU communications and reputable news outlets. However, none of these sources mention any specific plans to implement a verification system for users under 13 by the specified date.

Conclusion

The claim that the EU will introduce a verification system for users under 13 to use social media by July 1st, 2025, is False. Current EU initiatives are focused on verifying ages for users over 18 to restrict access to adult content, and the upcoming app in July 2025 is not specifically designed for under-13 users. There is no evidence from credible sources to support the claim as stated.

Sources

1. The EU approach to age verification
2. EU, age-checking app on social media coming in July
3. EU to Launch Privacy-Focused Digital Age Verification Tool in 2025
4. Parliamentary question | Age verification app | E-002140/2025
5. EU to Launch Age Verification App for Online Use in July
6. New push in Europe to curb children's social media use
7. EU to Launch Privacy-Focused Age Verification App in July
8. Six EU Countries Plan to Ban Social Media for Minors