EU Commission proposes social media ban for children under 13
The plan would require parental controls, age checks and safer design rules, and companies could face fines of up to 6% of global revenue.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a new Kids Act on Thursday to ban social media for children under 13 across the European Union, requiring platforms to prove their services are safe for minors.
- Individual European Union member states have already introduced social media limits on teenagers, reflecting a global push toward stricter regulation; Australia became the first country worldwide to ban social media for children under 16 in December 2025.
- The proposal introduces "mini accounts" for 13-15 year olds with parental supervision and limited features, capped at one hour daily. Platforms must demonstrate their environments are safe for minors to comply.
- EU member nations will now vote on the proposal, which could spark tensions with President Donald Trump, who has long criticized European tech regulations. Legal experts call the act a potential "new EU behemoth."
- Critics warn policymakers should avoid one-size-fits-all solutions for digital safety, as some students and experts argue parental involvement and responsible platform design are equally important as age restrictions. Implementation could take years pending individual member state approval.
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253 Articles
Minors need to be at least 15 years old to open their own social media accounts under proposed rules
The European Commission would introduce serious restrictions on children's use of social media. According to the KIDS Act, presented on Thursday, children under the age of 13 would not be able to use their own social media accounts, and between the ages of 13 and 15, only a limited account created and supervised by a parent would be available. The regulation would also severely affect tech companies, including restrictions on addictive features,…
EU Commission proposes under-13s social media ban
Under the proposal, which will need to be negotiated with EU countries and the European Parliament in the coming months before it can become law, accounts for children between 13 and 15 will be under parental control
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