The European Union plans to introduce legislation to severely restrict children's access to social media, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday.

Von der Leyen said under the proposed EU KIDS Act, children under 13 would not be allowed access to social media, while those between 13 and 15 would only be allowed time-restricted "mini accounts" supervised by parents, she said.

Accounts for teens between 15 and 18 would be obliged to incorporate "safe design," she said. "Each age has its own sensitivities," she said. "And therefore, each will have its own tailored protection level."

The proposal follows recommendations from a panel of experts, consultations with young people, and an examination of Australia's experience of restricting youth access to social media, she said.

She said the proposal would shift responsibility toward platforms to demonstrate that their services are safe for minors.