EU proposes sweeping rules to ban under-13 social media and curb addictive features
The European Commission unveiled the EU Kids Act, which would prohibit social-media accounts for children under 13, introduce “mini-accounts” for 13-15-year-olds and require online services to be built “safe by design”.
On 17 September, the European Commission introduced the EU Kids Act, a comprehensive package aimed at making the internet safer for children. The legislation bans personal social-media accounts for anyone under 13 and allows only supervised “mini-accounts” for 13-15-year-olds, restricting contacts, notifications and unlimited scrolling. It requires all online services—including video games, AI chatbots and app stores—to be designed with child safety in mind, eliminating addictive design elements and real-time location tracking.
Age verification will rely on the EU Age Verification App or the European Digital Identity Wallet, avoiding the collection of identity documents. Platforms must provide tools for parents to monitor screen time, approve contacts and report harmful content. The move responds to a 2026 Eurobarometer survey that linked early social-media use to higher screen-time and rising rates of stress, depression and cyberbullying among minors. While the European Parliament and Council still need to adopt the measure, a majority of EU member states are already drafting national laws that align with the proposal.
Why it matters
The act could reshape how children across Europe access social media, aiming to reduce screen-time addiction and online harms.
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