EU Proposes Kids Act to Bar Under-13s From Social Media

The European Commission has proposed new rules that would keep children under 13 off social media and put tight limits on how platforms treat older children. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined the plan, and the Commission presented the proposal, called the EU Kids Act, on September 17, 2026, according to Euronews.

Tiered age rules

According to Euronews and The Irish Times, the proposal takes a tiered approach. Children under 13 would be barred from having their own social media accounts. Euronews reported that they could only use accounts managed by their parents.

Young teenagers would be able to use what the Commission calls "mini accounts." These would come with parental supervision, restrictions on contacts and other features, and up to one hour of screen time per day, according to Euronews. The Irish Times reported that 16- and 17-year-olds would get access to "safer" feeds with added protections.

The Irish Times reported that von der Leyen framed the debate around "when social media has access to our children and teenagers," rather than only when young people should be allowed on the platforms. The paper said the full name of the law is the Keeping Internet Digital Spaces Accountable and Trustworthy Act.

Limits on addictive design

The proposal would ban several design features for young users. According to Euronews, these include infinite scrolling, autoplay and push notifications, as well as recommendation feeds based on user behavior. Platforms would also be barred from tracking a child's real-time location or turning on the microphone or camera unless the user activates them, and from rewarding users for posting.

The plan shifts the burden of proof onto companies. The Irish Times reported that tech companies would have to show their platforms are safe for minors before being allowed onto the European market. Euronews said very large online platforms would have to prove to the Commission and to auditors that their services are "safe by design," with fines of up to 6% of worldwide annual turnover for violations.

Age checks

Self-declared ages would no longer count, according to Euronews. Personal accounts would require age verification through the EU's age verification app, the EU Digital Identity Wallet or approved third-party systems, and platforms would have to verify ages without keeping personal data or tracking users.

The Irish Times described age verification as the main obstacle, noting that making the app effectively mandatory for signing up to social media carries political risk.

What happens next

The proposal is not yet law. The European Parliament and the Council, which represents EU member states, must approve it before it takes effect, Euronews reported. The Irish Times noted that France, Greece and Spain have led national efforts on the issue, and that EU-level action is meant to avoid a patchwork of different national rules.

Why it matters

If adopted, the EU Kids Act would apply across the bloc's 27 member states and would require some of the world's largest social media companies to change how their apps work for young users. Its approach of requiring platforms to prove safety in advance, backed by fines tied to global turnover, would give EU regulators significant leverage over those companies.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.