The European Commission on Thursday presented the KIDS Act, a draft law that would establish EU‑wide limits on minors’ use of online services. The proposal covers not only social networks but also video‑sharing platforms, online games, AI chatbots, app stores and operating systems.
Age limits and account rules
The central element of the proposal is a new age‑based regime:
- Children under 13 would not be allowed to hold their own social‑media accounts.
- Those aged 13 to 15 could only use accounts created and supervised by a parent, with restricted features.
- Independent accounts could be opened from the age of 15.
Accounts for 13–15 year‑olds would face further limits: daily use would be capped at one hour, and parents would have the ability to review contacts and other settings.
Restricted features and privacy by default
The Commission would limit or prohibit platform features that encourage prolonged use by children, including:
- infinite scrolling,
- push notifications sent during sleeping hours,
- various reward mechanisms designed to retain attention.
Profiles of minors would be private by default, and unsolicited contact requests from strangers would be restricted.
Rules for AI chatbots
Specific provisions would apply to AI chatbots: for minors these tools would be switched off by default. So‑called AI companions would not be permitted to operate in ways that create emotional dependence in children.
Age verification and existing accounts
Platforms would be required to verify users’ ages. They could use the EU age‑verification solution or other systems that ensure appropriate privacy protections. Existing accounts would also have to be checked to confirm that users meet the required age thresholds.
Platform responsibility and compliance
The draft increases tech companies’ obligations. The largest platforms would need to demonstrate that their services are designed to be safe for children. Before introducing new services or features they must draw up a compliance plan, which would be reviewed by an independent auditor.
Non‑compliance could carry heavy penalties: fines could reach up to 6 percent of a company’s total annual global turnover.
Legislative process and next steps
The KIDS Act has been tabled as a proposal and must be considered by the European Parliament and by the Council representing member states. The final rules may change during the legislative procedure and would only take effect after approval by the co‑legislators.
Why this matters
The proposal aims to strengthen children’s online safety and curb platform design elements that foster addictive behaviour, while increasing the accountability of technology companies. If adopted, the rules would have far‑reaching implications for young people’s online habits, platform design and the rollout of new digital features.
