Children will require permission from their parents to open accounts on social media sites such as

Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat following an EU agreement.

The data-protection legislation also includes provisions for the right “to be forgotten” and to information on when personal accounts have been hacked.

The measures were informally agreed by the European Parliament on Tuesday. The informal agreement will go to a formal vote by next April.

"The new rules will give users back the right to decide on their own private data," said Danish MEP Jan Philipp Albrecht.

"At the same time the new rules will give businesses legal certainty and chances for competition. It will create one single common data protection standard across Europe. "

The measures are designed to harness personal control over data in an age of smartphones, social media, internet banking and global transfers.

Of particular concern is the area of children’s use. The rules will ensure those below a certain age will require parental consent to open social media accounts, as is the case in many countries already.

Member states can, according to the provisions, set their own age limits so long as they are not below 13 or above 16.