Kids’ accounts before 15
The proposal doesn’t set a hard limit on social media access but instead calls for certain types of accounts to be accessible at different ages. These limitations apply to social media and video-sharing platforms that are high-risk, the documents said without clarifying how the category would be determined.
For children under 13, parents can open accounts for their kids that are fully controlled by the guardians and use services that meet strict safety standards.
Between 13 and 15, the proposal calls for introductory accounts with limits on contact with strangers and screen time, as well as parental controls.
After 15, teenagers can set up their own accounts.
The proposal would also require verification technology for social media and video-sharing platforms to verify users’ ages, the documents said.
The Commission’s proposal will include a new enforcement architecture similar to that of the Digital Services Act and the Artificial Intelligence Act, including supervisory fees to be paid by companies, the documents said. These laws centralize enforcement of the highest-risk companies and services to the Commission, while leaving national regulators to oversee smaller firms.
The Commission declined to comment on the plans.
This article was updated to include new details of the proposal.
