EU proposes new curbs on children's social media use
The European Commission has unveiled the EU Kids Act, proposing age-based limits on children's access to social media platforms.
The European Union has taken a major step to regulate young children's use of social media. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced new rules for children's online safety under the "EU Kids Act" on September 16, 2026.
Under the proposal, children under 13 would not be allowed to sign up on social media platforms on their own. For children aged 13 to 15, a system of limited use under parental supervision would be set up. However, these rules are not yet law; a final decision will only come after further process.
The proposal aims to protect children from harmful content on social media, addictive features, and contact with strangers. There is a plan to ban separate social media accounts for children under 13.
Instead, age-appropriate, safer digital services designed for children are being proposed. The European Commission's proposal is also considering placing responsibility on social media companies to verify users' ages.
Children aged 13 to 15 would not get full freedom to use social media but would instead get limited access. Accounts in this age group could remain subject to parental permission and monitoring, along with limits on screen time and possible controls on certain features.
Teenagers above 15 would have greater freedom to use social media, but platforms would have to adopt a "safe by design" approach for their safety.
The proposal could affect major digital platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Consideration is also being given to banning design methods that force children to keep scrolling, artificial notifications, and certain techniques used to boost user engagement.
Debate over children's online safety has already been ongoing in Europe. There is now an effort to apply uniform rules across the EU. However, the proposal will still need approval from the European Parliament and member states. When and in what form the rules will actually come into force will only become clear after the further legislative process.
