EU Proposes Strict Age Limits Under the New EU Kids Act
The EU Kids Act is being pushed forward by the European Commission to strictly regulate and control access to social media, AI chatbots, video platforms, and online games for children and teenagers under 15. According to leaked European Commission documents, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen will soon officially unveil the draft legislation.
Phased Restrictions and Parental Controls by Age
The draft bill establishes phased guidelines that restrict digital service access based on the child’s age. Toddlers under 3 will be completely blocked from access, while children aged 3 to 12 can only use child-dedicated services under full parental supervision. For teenagers aged 13 to 14, only introductory accounts with restricted usage time and limited contact lists will be permitted, strictly conditioned on parental management.
Increased Legal and Financial Accountability for Big Tech
Big tech companies will face significantly heightened legal and financial responsibilities under the new framework. Platforms must implement robust age verification procedures during new account creation, eliminate addictive design features like infinite scrolling, and block harmful feeds. Additionally, a new Supervisory Fee will be introduced to fund regulatory enforcement and oversight. The European Commission stated its intent to protect minors from exploitation while allowing them to enjoy digital services safely, emphasizing that tech companies must adapt to children rather than the reverse. The bill will undergo final review and voting by EU member states and the European Parliament in the coming months.
