European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that the EU’s new age verification app is ready for rollout. This tool is a key part of the bloc’s broader effort to restrict minors' access to social media and hold platforms accountable for child safety. The initiative follows the lead of countries like Australia, which introduced similar bans last year, as concerns grow over the impact of digital algorithms on the mental health of minors.

The app is designed to allow users to verify their age anonymously by uploading a passport or national ID card. It generates a secure, privacy-preserving token that confirms eligibility for age-restricted services without sharing personal data or allowing tracking. Von der Leyen emphasized a "zero tolerance" policy for companies that fail to protect children’s rights, positioning the app as a "powerful tool" for parents and educators.

While several European nations, including Britain and Norway, have already moved toward setting minimum age limits between 13 and 16, the EU aims to harmonize these efforts. The European Parliament has previously backed calls for a bloc-wide minimum age of 16. Officials acknowledged that while users might find verification processes cumbersome or attempt to bypass them using VPNs, the primary goal is to prevent the "unintended exposure" of children to inappropriate content rather than policing the general public.

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