Brussels – The European Commission announced a sweeping draft regulation, the EU KIDS Act, aimed at protecting children online. The proposal would ban social‑media accounts for anyone under 13 and create a new tier of “mini accounts” for 13‑ and 14‑year‑olds that parents must supervise.
Age‑based rules
Under the plan, children younger than 13 would be barred from having any social‑media presence. For 13‑ and 14‑year‑olds, a guardian could set up a limited account that the guardian controls, allowing up to one hour of age‑appropriate social‑media or video‑sharing use each day. Teenagers 15 and older would be permitted independent accounts, but platforms must verify ages within six months of the rules taking effect and disable accounts for users who cannot prove they are at least 15.
Age verification would rely on certified solutions independent of the platforms, including the forthcoming European Digital Identity Wallet. Platforms would be exempt from verification only if they can demonstrate with high confidence that a user is an adult.
Platform obligations
The draft sets out extensive duties for all social‑media services, video‑sharing sites, online video games, AI companions and chatbots that target users under 18. Key requirements include:
- Banning addictive design features such as infinite scrolling without breaks and reward‑based tricks.
- Prohibiting profiling‑based recommendation feeds and personalised advertising that rely on past activity.
- Blocking unsolicited contact from strangers and disabling push notifications during sleeping hours – defined as any eight‑hour stretch between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
- Turning AI companions and chatbots off by default for children.
- Making child profiles private by default and disabling geolocation, camera and microphone access.
Platforms with 45 million or more active monthly users in the EU would have to submit detailed compliance plans before they can interact with children’s accounts. The burden of proof would rest on the platforms to demonstrate that their services are safe for minors.
Impact on existing national rules
The KIDS Act is designed to replace a patchwork of national regulations with a single, uniform standard across the European Union. France, for example, has pushed for an EU‑wide ban on under‑15 accounts after its Constitutional Court struck down a national bill that it said infringed on freedom of expression. The new EU framework would supersede such national measures, ensuring consistent protection for children throughout the bloc.
What comes next?
The proposal now heads to EU member‑state governments and the European Parliament for approval. It could be revised before final adoption, and the Commission has indicated that a six‑month transition period will give platforms time to adjust their systems and verify user ages.
Stakeholders, including industry groups and child‑advocacy organisations, are expected to weigh in during the legislative process. While critics argue the rules could limit freedom of expression and place a heavy compliance burden on tech firms, supporters contend that the measures are essential to safeguard children from harmful online content and manipulative design practices.
As the EU moves toward finalising the KIDS Act, the debate highlights the growing global focus on protecting minors in the digital age while balancing innovation and parental responsibility.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
