Children under 13 would be prohibited from using social media across the European Union under proposals announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her State of the Union speech on Wednesday.
The proposed EU Kids Act would establish 15 as the minimum age for opening an independent social media account. Children aged 13 and 14 could only access platforms through restricted “mini accounts” managed by a parent or guardian.
These accounts would have limited social contacts, age-appropriate content and a maximum screen time of one hour per day. Children under 13 could still access specially designed video services through a guardian’s account, also subject to a one-hour daily limit.
Platforms required to prove they are safe
The legislation would apply to social media and video-sharing platforms, online games, AI companions and chatbots used by people under 18.
It would prohibit features designed to encourage excessive use, including infinite scrolling, profiling-based recommendation feeds, digital reward mechanisms and notifications during sleeping hours. Unsolicited contact from strangers would also be banned, while minors’ profiles would be private by default.
Platforms would be required to verify a user’s age when an account is opened. The Commission has proposed privacy-preserving technology that can confirm age without retaining identity documents or biometric information.
Companies would also carry the burden of proving that their services are safe by design. Those failing to comply could face fines of up to 6% of global annual revenue.
“Technology was never created with their wellbeing in mind,” von der Leyen said. “It is for platforms to show they are safe by design.”
When would the restrictions begin?
The Kids Act is still a legislative proposal and will not take effect immediately. It must first be negotiated and approved by the European Parliament and the EU’s 27 member states.
No implementation date has been confirmed, and the text may change during negotiations.
The proposal follows France’s attempt to introduce its own ban for children under 15. That legislation was due to take effect on 1st September but was blocked by the Constitutional Council in August over concerns about freedom of expression, privacy and insufficient safeguards around age verification.
President Emmanuel Macron has instructed the French government to rewrite the legislation, with a revised measure expected before spring 2027.
Monaco Life is written by qualified journalists, writing original content. Sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.
Photo credit: Sanket Mishra, Unsplash