The European Commission has proposed the "EU Kids Act" legislation to limit children's access to social media across the bloc. It bans children under 13 from using social media platforms and requires those aged 13–14 to use accounts controlled by parents with a daily limit of one hour. Children aged 15 and above may open private accounts independently. The law also requires tech companies to prove their platforms are safe from the design stage.
The European Commission announced plans to restrict social media access for children under 16 in European Union member states. The goal is to improve children's well-being and address online safety risks through a legislative proposal called the "EU Kids Act."
The proposal outlines a gradual approach to social media access. It prohibits children under 13 from accessing social media platforms but allows them to use video-sharing services designed specifically for children, under parental supervision, with a daily usage limit of one hour.
Children aged 13 but under 15 may access age-appropriate social media and video-sharing platforms via "lite accounts" set up through parental accounts, limited to one hour daily, with restrictions on social contacts. Those aged 15 and over can create their own social media accounts independently.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that this legislation shifts the burden of proving safety from users to service providers. Tech companies must demonstrate that their platforms are safe by design and provide parents with tools to oversee their children's online activity.
She noted that children today use some of the most complex technologies ever developed, which were not primarily designed with children's well-being in mind. Von der Leyen said the EU Kids Act will help parents better control and support their children's safe use of the online world.
Under the EU Kids Act, online services offering social media, video-sharing platforms, online games, as well as AI assistants and chatbots for users under 18, must comply with multiple safety requirements. These include banning addictive features, recommendation systems that exploit user behavior to trap children in harmful content cycles, and infinite scrolling without breaks. The law also bans reward mechanisms that encourage continued use, sending notifications during sleep hours, and unsolicited contact from strangers to children.
AI assistants and chatbots must be disabled by default and prohibited from simulating interpersonal relationships that could create emotional dependency. Minor's accounts must default to private settings, with location, camera, and microphone access disabled by default. Easy-to-use tools for blocking and muting users, managing screen time, and customizable content recommendation systems must also be provided.
The legislation requires online services and app stores to use age verification tools, potentially including an EU-designed age verification app that does not store identity documents or biometric data, to enhance privacy protection.
Social media and video-sharing platform providers must verify users' ages when new accounts are created. For existing accounts, providers must assess user age based on reasonable data or factors such as account creation date and credit card information. EU member states will collaborate to establish an age verification ecosystem that complies with data protection standards.
The EU Kids Act proposal also shifts the burden of proof, requiring very large online platform providers to demonstrate that their services are safe by design.
Providers must submit compliance plans to the European Commission and independent auditors, who will thoroughly evaluate new services, features, or functions. If the Commission finds deficiencies, it can require providers to propose corrective measures.
Enforcement will rely on existing frameworks under the Digital Services Act and the Artificial Intelligence Act, with expedited procedures for non-compliant providers. The Commission aims to conclude investigations within 90 days.
The legislative proposal will be forwarded to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for consideration to begin the legislative and approval process. The European Commission emphasized the need to act swiftly due to widespread demand for comprehensive child online protection measures at the EU level.
Previously, von der Leyen proposed delaying children's access to social media in Europe, stating in May that discussions on minimum age for social media use can no longer be ignored. She reiterated this idea during her annual policy statement to the European Parliament on Wednesday, 16 September.
Some EU member states, such as France and Spain, have already announced plans to limit children's social media use nationally. However, the EU Kids Act would provide a unified approach across the European Union if adopted.
The proposal is based on reports and recommendations from a panel of over 60 online child safety experts, including civil society representatives, youth delegates, parents, educators, child psychiatrists, public health specialists, neuroscientists, and technology experts.
This expert panel first convened in March 2026 and met three times before submitting their report in July 2026.
Meanwhile, a Eurobarometer survey titled "Digital Decade 2026" found that 92% of Europeans consider enhancing child and youth protection online a key policy priority. This includes addressing risks such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, addictive platform design, and other digital threats.
. . .European Commission/BBC