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The European Commission has proposed the EU KIDS Act that prohibits social media platforms from providing accounts to children under 13 and sets 15 as the minimum age for independent access, according to a commission press release issued after the State of the Union address. For 13- and 14-year-olds, the plan allows parental-supervised mini accounts with restricted features, limited contact with strangers and a daily cap of one hour, the release added. Ursula von der Leyen described the measure as reversing the burden of proof so platforms must demonstrate that services are safe by design for minors up to age 18. The proposal builds on the Digital Services Act already requiring risk assessments for child users, a commission factsheet noted.
A survey coordinated by the London School of Economics as part of the EU Kids Online network found that children aged 10 to 16 spend four to six hours daily on screens, with social media forming a major part of that time. The study of more than 28,000 children across 19 countries between April 2025 and April 2026 showed only 48 percent feel safe online, down from 65 percent in 2020, while the share upset by something online rose to 23 percent from 7 percent. Three in ten children encounter hateful messages at least monthly, according to the LSE report, with exposure to violent or harmful content also widespread among older teens.
Von der Leyen said in the September 16 address that technology was never created with children’s wellbeing in mind, as carried in the European Commission announcement. She added, “Our KIDS Act is reversing the burden of proof – it is for platforms to show they are safe by design. And we put parents back in the driving seat, giving them the tools to help their children navigate a safer online world.” The European Commission president further stated, according to The New York Times coverage, “It is not about our minors accessing social media. It is about when and how do we allow social media to access minors.”
Seventeen EU member states have already begun preparing national rules on minimum ages or restrictions, a Bloomberg report from the same period indicated. Australia introduced the world’s first nationwide ban for those under 16 in late 2025, while France, Greece and Spain have pursued similar steps at the national level, multiple outlets including CNN reported. A French court struck down one under-15 ban last month on freedom of expression grounds, highlighting potential legal hurdles for enforcement.
A Special Eurobarometer survey published days before the announcement found that 92 percent of Europeans view stronger online protection for children as a top priority, the European Commission stated. The poll showed 63 percent back age-based restrictions on social media, with majorities citing concerns over mental health, cyberbullying, grooming and addictive design as reasons for action. Parents reported that more than half believe screens negatively affect young people’s lives, according to the same Eurobarometer data.
The full legislative text is scheduled for release on September 17, with member states and the European Parliament set to debate the proposal over the coming months, according to the commission’s policy timeline. Implementation would likely focus on age verification systems that balance effectiveness with privacy protections, though details remain under discussion. The measure forms part of a broader package addressing addictive platform features through forthcoming legislation such as the Digital Fairness Act.
