EU KIDS Act to restrict social media platforms' access to children in the EU

Today, the European Commission has adopted the EU KIDS Act to enhance the online safety of children throughout the Union.

The proposal prohibits social media platforms from accessing children under the age of 13 and sets an EU-wide minimum age for minors to open an account of their own at the age of 15, thereby ensuring a gradual approach. The KIDS Act also reverses the burden of proof. Now, service providers will have to show that their services are age-appropriate and safe by design.

Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Today, our children are engaging with the most sophisticated technologies ever created. Technology that was never created with their wellbeing in mind. Our KIDS Act is reversing the burden of proof - it is for platforms to show they are safe by design. And we put parents back in the driving seat, giving them the tools to help their children navigate a safer online world.”

The proposed EU KIDS Act is structured around four pillars:

The EU KIDS Act proposes that children can create autonomous accounts on social media services, only from the age of 15.

For children between 13 and under 15, the proposal calls for parental control, enabling guardians to set up mini accounts that children can access through the guardian's account. This would allow them to access age-appropriate social media and video-sharing platforms. In addition, services available on the mini accounts must be designed with safeguards, such as limited social contacts and limited screen time up to one hour per day, recognising the role of guardians in supporting the autonomous and safe development of their children online.