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EU plans under-15 social media ban
A draft EU law would restrict children’s access to social platforms, chatbots, video services and online games.
What happened
The European Commission is due to present an EU Kids Act that would bar children under fifteen from opening their own accounts on social media, video-sharing services, AI chatbots and online games. The draft also proposes age checks, parental controls and changes to features described as addictive. It still needs agreement from EU governments and Parliament.
Numbers
- Under 15own accounts would be barred
- 13–14supervised starter accounts proposed — With restricted contacts and time
- 27 countrieswould be covered by EU law
Questions
- How would account access work?
- The draft sets a graduated system: younger users could use services only through parent-supervised accounts, with contact and time limits.
- Why include chatbots and games?
- The Commission’s draft treats them alongside social platforms as digital services where minors may face abuse, exploitation and harmful content.
- What changes for platforms?
- Services would need age verification for accounts or game downloads, reporting tools for harmful content, and parental-control tools.
- What must happen before it becomes law?
- Commission officials must negotiate the draft with member states and the European Parliament before it can become EU law.
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The catch
The draft has not been formally presented, and its final age rules and platform duties could change.
Negotiations would follow its presentation.