BRUSSELS : Under the proposed EU Kids Act, children below the age of 13 would not be allowed to access social media platforms, while those aged 13 to 14 would only be permitted to use specially designed “mini accounts” created and supervised through a parent or guardian.
These accounts would come with limited features and a maximum usage time of one hour per day. Young people would only be allowed to set up their own personal social media accounts from the age of 15. For users aged 15 to 17, platforms would be required to provide services designed with stronger safety protections.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the legislation would shift greater responsibility onto technology companies, requiring platforms to demonstrate that their services are safe for younger users.
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The plan is aimed at giving parents greater control over how their children use social media while addressing concerns around addictive features, harmful content and the risks young people face online. Von der Leyen said the initiative would help “put parents back in the driving seat” and provide families with stronger tools to help children navigate the digital world.
The proposal was highlighted during von der Leyen’s State of the European Union address to the European Parliament on September 16, before the Commission outlined the initiative on September 17.
Von der Leyen has previously called for Europe to consider delaying children’s access to social media, arguing that the debate over minimum-age requirements could no longer be ignored.
The EU-wide proposal comes as individual member states also move towards tighter restrictions on children’s social media use. France, for example, has already approved measures restricting access for younger users, while other European countries have been considering similar protections.
If adopted, the EU Kids Act would establish a common framework across the bloc aimed at limiting children’s exposure to potentially harmful online environments while placing greater responsibility on social media companies to protect minors.
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