The European Union is preparing to unveil a regulatory framework restricting access to social media platforms, video-sharing services, AI chatbots, and online games for minors under the age of 15. Drafted as part of the upcoming EU Kids Act—to be presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen—the draft policy establishes tiered access controls designed to mitigate digital harms and enforce platform safety standards across the bloc, according to Reuters.
Under the tiered access structure, minors aged 15 and above would be permitted to create independent user accounts. Children aged 13 and 14 could access social media and video-sharing platforms only through introductory, parentally managed accounts restricted by strict screen-time caps and limited contact lists. For children aged three to 12, access would be restricted to verified child-friendly services fully administered by parents, while children under the age of three would be completely prohibited from using platforms covered by the framework.
The proposed legislation imposes strict compliance obligations on technology giants—including Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and OpenAI—mandating mandatory age-verification checks at account setup and prior to game downloads. Additionally, platforms must eliminate addictive UI/UX design features, curb harmful algorithmic recommendation feeds, provide dedicated minor-reporting tools, and offer granular parental control dashboards. Tech companies will also be subject to a new supervisory levy to finance ongoing regulatory oversight and enforcement across EU member states.
The draft proposal arrives amid heightened global scrutiny regarding the impact of digital platforms and generative AI on youth mental health and online safety. While major platforms currently maintain a minimum sign-up age of 13, the draft EU Kids Act represents a structural shift toward executive-level oversight of platform design architecture. The proposal must undergo formal negotiations and approval by the European Parliament and EU member states before being enacted into law.
