European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has proposed banning children under 13 across the 27-nation bloc from using social media.
The plan would also impose limits for older teenagers on how they access the platforms.
She set out the measures in a major policy speech, framing them as a response to addictive product design and the risks children face online.
The move builds on months of pressure inside the EU to tighten minors' access to online services.
It follows expert recommendations for a tiered approach and calls from parliamentarians for a single, harmonised digital age threshold across member states.
Drafts and press reporting suggest the package would rely on parental controls, time limits and pared-down "mini" accounts for younger teenagers, while keeping broader restrictions for those under 13.
Von der Leyen used the same address to lay out other priorities.
These included a new EU security mechanism to respond to drone incidents, and a push for Canada to become the bloc's first associate member.
