The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Sept. 18, edition that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a plan to protect children on-line, recommending a ban on social media for those under 13. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that the move aligns with similar actions in Australia, Britain, China, India, Turkey and several EU countries, highlighting concerns over the impact of Meta's Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and ChatGPT on children's mental health and safety. Ms. von der Leyen says the proposed EU Kids Act "will set clear boundaries in the digital world just as we do it on a daily basis in the real world." The proposal, still subject to negotiation with EU countries and Parliament, will place accounts for children aged 13 to 15 under parental control. Services like social media, video games and artificial intelligence companions for children under 18 will follow specific guidelines. These measures include banning addictive features, profiling-based feeds, infinite scroll, reward tricks and unsolicited contact. AI companions and chatbots should be off by default. On-line platforms must create child-safe algorithms and offer simple parental controls to block and mute users.