The European Commission laid out a proposal that would bar children under 13 from social media across the EU and require stricter child-safety controls for teens. The proposed EU KIDS Act would set a bloc-wide account minimum age of 15, allow 13- to 15-year-olds only through parent-managed 'mini accounts,' and require age verification for new accounts plus age estimation for existing ones. It would also mandate privacy-by-default settings, block geolocation, microphone, and camera access for minors, and require social platforms, video-sharing services, online games, and AI chatbots or companions to remove addictive design features and limit unsolicited contact from strangers.
Why it matters: This would materially change how large online platforms verify age, profile minors, and design features for children across the EU, with direct privacy and safety implications for users and major compliance obligations for providers. Organizations that run consumer platforms should prepare for stricter age-assurance, audit, and child-safety requirements if the proposal advances into law.
2026.09.17
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This article appears to be the initial detailed report on the European Commission's formal roadmap and proposal text for the new EU KIDS Act, rather than an update to an already tracked specific EC legislative event.
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