European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a proposal for a total ban on social media for children under 13 during her State of the Union address on Wednesday.
Details of the EU Kids Act
The Commission will unveil the full EU Kids Act on Thursday, containing comprehensive provisions for children's online safety.
Under the new law, no child below the age of 13 will be allowed to create a personal account on any social media platform.
Age‑Based Account Structure
Teenagers aged 13 to 15 will only be able to use mini accounts set up and supervised by parents or guardians.
These accounts will have a daily limit of one hour and restricted features.
Safe Design Obligations and the Digital Fairness Act
All platforms must comply with safe design standards for users up to age 18.
The upcoming Digital Fairness Act, expected in autumn, will introduce stricter rules on addictive design elements.
Existing Initiatives by Member States
Seventeen of the 27 member states are already drafting or negotiating legislation to protect minors online.
France's top court last month struck down a ban on social media for under‑15s, ruling it violated freedom of expression.
Legal Experts' Views
Legal expert Arnav Joshi said a single EU‑wide rulebook would bring clarity and simplify compliance for companies.
He also warned that deep parental monitoring could chill children's use of services and raise privacy concerns.
Digital regulation specialist Joanna Conway said making age verification accurate without infringing privacy or harming user experience remains a major challenge.
Age Verification Challenges
In Australia, children have widely circumvented the under‑16 ban, highlighting enforcement difficulties.
The EU launched an app earlier this year that lets members prove they are over 18 to access adult‑restricted sites, and it can be adapted for other age groups.
Broader Technology Concerns and Upcoming Initiatives
Von der Leyen acknowledged that Europeans are worried by the dizzying speed of technology and its impact on livelihoods.
She stated that AI has not yet delivered value in the real economy such as factories, hospitals, and energy grids.
In November, initiatives will be announced across health, transport, agri‑food, advanced manufacturing, defence and space.
The Quality Jobs Act aims to ensure AI helps develop skills, improve job quality and give workers a fair chance.
The Commission will invite leading AI frontier labs to discuss how the EU can support industry efforts to stay at the frontier.
