EU Draft Law Proposes Social Media Ban for Children Under 15
The proposed 'EU KIDS Act' would also force digital giants to remove addictive features like infinite scrolling.
Quick Look
The European Union is set to propose the 'EU KIDS Act' to ban children under 15 from opening social media accounts without parental supervision, while forcing platforms to remove addictive features.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The European Commission faces pressure from member states like France and Greece following Australia's ban on under 16s using social media.
The European Union is set to propose curbing access to social media, video-sharing platforms, chatbots and online games to children under the age of 15, according to a draft legal document seen by AFP.
A proposed new law – to be formally presented on Thursday – would mean banning minors under 15 from opening their own accounts, with a tiered system of access under parental supervision for younger children.
As well as age limits, the new “EU KIDS Act” would force digital giants to make their platforms “safe by design” for children, meaning certain “addictive” features such as so-called infinite scrolling would have to be removed, the draft showed.
The European Commission has come under pressure from several EU member states including France and Greece to take bloc-wide measures to protect children from social media harms, a push that intensified after Australia banned under 16s from such platforms.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
EU to formally present the new law on Thursday
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- How will age verification be enforced?
- What are the specific penalties for digital platforms?
