The European Commission is preparing to introduce the EU Kids Act, a comprehensive legislative package designed to shield minors from the perils of social media. With nearly 60% of European youth reporting emotional and psychosocial distress linked to digital platforms, Brussels is moving away from relying on tech companies' self-regulation and toward mandatory safeguards.
Setting a Digital Majority Age
At the heart of the proposal is a digital majority age of 15, which would prevent younger children from opening accounts on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and certain video games. Children under 3 would be banned entirely from these services, while those aged 3 to 12 could only access strictly vetted, child-friendly platforms. For 13- and 14-year-olds, a formal parental consent would be required to open highly restricted "introductory accounts" that enforce daily screen-time limits and block communication from strangers.
The age-verification mechanism is designed to respect user privacy. Platforms would need to integrate with a secure, anonymous European system—either the EU Age Verification App, the European Digital Identity wallet, or approved third-party apps. This approach aims to enforce age limits without creating a centralized database of minors' personal data.
Banning Addictive Features
Beyond age gating, the legislation targets the very design of social media that hooks young users. It bans addictive features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, and continuous push notifications, and restricts engagement-based recommendation algorithms. Minor accounts would be private by default, with location tracking and open direct messaging disabled. These measures are intended to reduce the manipulative power of predatory algorithms and curb cyberbullying and privacy exploitation.
The EU's move is part of a broader regulatory push under the Digital Services Act, and it echoes the parental consent proposals that have been circulating in Brussels. The Commission's initiative also aligns with the priorities outlined in Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union address, where she pledged to make the digital world safer for children.
Enforcement and Penalties
To ensure compliance, the EU Kids Act introduces severe financial penalties: tech companies that fail to meet the requirements could face fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue. This is a significant escalation from previous voluntary measures and signals that the EU is serious about holding platforms accountable.
Reactions from member states have been mixed. Some governments, particularly in the Nordics, have long advocated for stricter regulations, while others worry about the practical implementation of age verification and the potential impact on the digital single market. The European Parliament will now debate the proposal, with amendments expected before final adoption.
For parents and educators across the continent, the EU Kids Act represents a long-awaited shift. "We've been asking for years for platforms to do more," said one Brussels-based child safety advocate. "Now the law will force them to put children's wellbeing before profit."
As the legislation moves through the EU's legislative process, it will be closely watched by tech giants and child rights groups alike. The outcome could set a global precedent for how democracies protect their youngest citizens in the digital age.
