EU Proposes Ban on Social Media for Children Under 13

Brussels draws a digital line,
No feeds for kids beneath thirteen.
Mini-accounts and hourly caps,
While parents wrestle with the apps.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the EU Kids Act on Thursday, proposing a bloc-wide ban on social media accounts for children under 13. Teenagers aged 13 and 14 would be limited to parent-supervised “mini accounts” capped at one hour per day. Independent accounts would be allowed only from age 15.

Safety-by-Design Requirements

Platforms would have to prove their services are safe before children can use them, reversing the usual burden of proof. Addictive features such as infinite scroll, reward loops, profiling-based feeds and unsolicited contact from strangers would be banned for minors. AI companions and chatbots would be switched off by default. Large platforms face fines of up to 6 percent of global annual revenue for non-compliance.

Age Checks and Privacy Questions

Companies and app stores would be required to verify age using tools that, according to the Commission, need not store identity documents or biometric data. Industry groups have already warned that mandatory age-assurance systems could create new privacy risks and drive users toward less regulated apps. The proposal must still be negotiated with member states and the European Parliament.

Parents Versus Platforms

Von der Leyen said the rules would “put parents back in the driving seat.” Critics note that many member states already have or are drafting national age limits, and a uniform EU law would override some of those. Enforcement across 27 countries with different technical capacities remains an open question.

What Happens Next

The draft will undergo months of debate. If adopted, existing accounts belonging to under-15s would need to be reviewed or disabled. The measure follows similar steps in Australia and several individual European countries, reflecting growing official concern over children’s screen time and mental health.

Conclusion: The EU Kids Act represents one of the most ambitious attempts yet to regulate children’s access to social media. Its success will depend on whether age-verification technology can work without creating new surveillance problems and whether parents actually use the controls they are given.