The European Union is reportedly preparing major new restrictions that would limit how children under 15 can access social media, AI chatbots, online games and other digital platforms.
The measures are expected to form part of the proposed EU Kids Act, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen are set to present.
The plan would introduce different levels of digital access depending on a child’s age while placing new safety and verification requirements on technology companies operating across the EU.
Under the proposal, children would be allowed to create their own accounts from age 15.
Those aged 13 and 14 could use introductory accounts created by their parents for social media and video-sharing platforms. These accounts would include parental controls, limits on who children can contact and restrictions on how long they can use the services.
For children between the ages of 3 and 12, parents would have full control over accounts, with access limited to child-friendly services that meet stricter safety standards. Children under 3 would not be allowed to use the services covered by the legislation.
The proposed rules would apply beyond traditional social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
AI chatbots, online gaming platforms and video-sharing services would also fall under the new framework, although the specific requirements would vary depending on the platform and the child’s age.
Social media and video platforms would be required to verify users’ ages when accounts are created, while gaming services would need to confirm age before allowing children to download games.
Tech companies would also be expected to reduce addictive design features and potentially harmful recommendation feeds.
Platforms would need to provide stronger parental controls and simple tools allowing children to report harmful or inappropriate content.
The proposal would also require companies to pay a supervisory fee to help fund enforcement and regulatory oversight.
The European Commission says the goal is to allow children to benefit from digital services while limiting their exposure to exploitation, harmful content and potentially addictive online experiences.
The legislation has not yet been finalized, and details could still change before it is formally introduced.
After the proposal is announced, it would need to be negotiated with EU member states and the European Parliament before becoming law.
The EU Kids Act follows recommendations from an independent expert panel that previously called for stricter age limits and phased access to online platforms for children.