BRUSSELS, May 12 (Reuters) - The European Union is working on new rules to protect children from addictive designs on social media such as TikTok, X and Meta apps, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.

“Sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addictive behavior, cyberbullying, grooming, exploitation, and suicide are all risks that are rapidly multiplying,” Von der Leyen added in a speech in Copenhagen. “These risks are the reality of the digital world. They are not accidental. They are the result of business models that treat our children’s attention as a commodity.”

She noted that the commission will specifically target "addictive and harmful design practices" in the Digital Justice Act, which is scheduled to be introduced by the end of the year.

She stated that the law would also include strict restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence in social media, while simultaneously calling for a minimum age to be set for using these platforms.

Under these rules, the Commission is already investigating the TikTok, X, Instagram and Facebook platforms owned by Meta Platforms.

Spokespeople for the three companies have not yet responded to requests for comment.