The European Commission adopts the Eu Kids Act for the safety of minors online
Ban on access to social media for under 13s and parental control up to 15 years of age
Quick Look
- The European Commission has adopted the Eu Kids Act for the online safety of minors.
- The proposal prohibits access to social media for those under 13, sets the age for autonomous accounts at 15 and introduces obligations against digital addiction.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The European Commission has launched new regulations to protect minors on digital platforms and social networks.
The European Commission has adopted the Eu Kids Act to strengthen the safety of minors online. The proposal prohibits social platforms from accessing under 13s and sets the minimum age to open an independent account at 15. Parental control will be expected between the ages of 13 and 15. The text also introduces the principle of reversing the burden of proof: providers will have to demonstrate that their services are age-appropriate and safe by default.
The Eu Kids Act provides obligations for online services that offer social media, video sharing, online video games, AI assistants and chatbots to users under the age of 18.
The measures include a ban on addictive features and profiling-based recommendation feeds that can lead minors to harmful content, as well as a ban on infinite scrolling without breakpoints, reward mechanisms and push notifications during sleep hours. There is also a ban on unsolicited contact from strangers.
Child profiles should be private by default, with geolocation, camera and microphone turned off. Services should also offer simple tools to block and mute other users, time management tools, and safe recommendation systems that minors can review, edit, and reset.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Examination and discussion of the EU Kids Act proposal by the European Parliament and the Council.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What will be the timeframe for final approval of the measure?
- How will the age of users be verified on the platforms?
