Brussels, Sept 2026 : The European Commission on Thursday proposed new EU-wide measures aimed at strengthening protections for children online, including a ban on social media access for those under 13 and tighter restrictions for teenagers below 15.
Under the proposed EU KIDS Act, children younger than 13 would not be permitted to use social media platforms. Those aged between 13 and 15 would only be allowed to access limited accounts created through a parent or guardian’s account.
The proposed accounts would include restrictions on social interactions and screen time, with usage capped at up to one hour a day.
The European Commission also proposed that social media platforms, video-sharing services, online video games, AI companions and chatbots used by minors should be designed with child safety protections built into their services.
The proposed rules would target features that can encourage prolonged or compulsive use. These would include infinite scrolling, certain reward-based mechanisms and push notifications sent during sleeping hours.
The Commission has also proposed that accounts belonging to minors should be private by default. Access to features such as geolocation, cameras and microphones would be switched off unless appropriate safeguards or permissions apply.
Special provisions have been proposed for AI companions and chatbots. Such services would be disabled by default for minors and would not be permitted to simulate interpersonal relationships in ways that could potentially encourage emotional dependency.
The proposed legislation would also require online services and app stores to introduce age-assurance mechanisms to establish whether users meet minimum age requirements.
According to the European Commission, its EU age-verification application could be used without retaining users’ identity documents or biometric information, providing a mechanism for age checks while limiting the storage of sensitive personal data.
The proposal would introduce additional obligations for very large online platforms. Under the proposed framework, these companies would have to demonstrate that their services are safe for children rather than placing the primary burden on parents or regulators to identify potential risks.
Providers would also be required to submit compliance plans for independent auditing before introducing relevant services or features.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the proposal was aimed at strengthening parents’ ability to protect children online while requiring digital platforms to demonstrate that their services were safe by design.
The proposed EU KIDS Act will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union before it can become law.
Enforcement would rely on existing mechanisms under the EU’s Digital Services Act and Artificial Intelligence Act. Companies found violating applicable requirements could face fines of up to 6 per cent of their total worldwide annual turnover.
The proposal forms part of the European Union’s broader effort to address concerns surrounding children’s exposure to potentially harmful online content, excessive screen use, addictive platform features and emerging AI technologies.
