Advisories
European Commission Proposes EU KIDS Act to Enforce Strict Age Limits and Design Mandates for Social Platforms
The European Commission has introduced the EU KIDS Act, a legislative proposal aimed at banning social media accounts for children under 13 and setting a bloc-wide minimum age of 15. The framework mandates strict safety-by-design standards, parental controls, and restrictions on addictive product features for minors across digital platforms.
What Happened
The European Commission has detailed a new legislative roadmap known as the EU KIDS Act. The proposal establishes strict baseline age limits and safety mandates across social media platforms, online gaming services, video-sharing platforms, and AI chatbots operating within the European Union.
Key Restrictions and Account Tiers
- Under 13: Completely blocked from holding independent social media accounts, restricted exclusively to parent-controlled child-friendly video services.
- Ages 13 to 15: Permitted access only through regulated "mini accounts" established and managed by legal guardians.
- Screen Time and Limits: Mini accounts must enforce strict caps, including maximum one-hour daily usage limits and restricted social contact features.
Safe-by-Design Mandates
Platform providers will bear the technical and operational onus to verify age and enforce safety controls. The framework mandates the removal of specific engagement mechanics for minors under 18.
- Prohibition of profiling-based recommendation feeds that lead to algorithmic rabbit holes.
- Elimination of infinite scrolling interfaces lacking natural stopping points.
- Ban on behavioral reward mechanics and push notifications configured during typical sleeping hours.
What to Do
Compliance, product, and engineering teams operating digital services within the EU should monitor the legislative progress of the EU KIDS Act through the European Parliament. Organizations should begin evaluating technical readiness for verifiable age-assurance mechanisms, parental control infrastructures, and algorithmic feed segmentation for minor accounts.
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