The European Commission has announced that France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece will begin testing a new EU-backed age verification app designed to protect children online..

The app is part of the bloc’s broader push to safeguard minors from harmful content on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), amid growing global concern over the mental health impact of social media on children.

Built on the same infrastructure as the forthcoming European Digital Identity Wallet, the age verification blueprint will allow each participating country to tailor the model to their needs—either integrating it into an existing national app or deploying it as a standalone system.

In addition to the pilot, the EU Commission released new guidelines requiring digital platforms to strengthen protections for minors as mandated by the Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping tech regulation that took effect last year.

Under the DSA, companies like Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook and Instagram), ByteDance (TikTok), and others must take proactive steps to remove illegal and harmful content and prevent exposure to cyberbullying, addictive design features, and unwanted adult contact.

“Platforms have no excuse to be continuing practices that put children at risk,” said EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen.

Several tech giants, including Meta, TikTok, and adult content sites, are currently under investigation by EU regulators over potential violations of the DSA’s child safety provisions.

Concerns over social media’s impact on youth have escalated globally. Dozens of U.S. states have filed lawsuits against Meta, while Australia has banned children under 16 from using social media platforms without parental consent.

The EU hopes that these digital tools and stricter regulations will set a global benchmark for online child protection.