The European Commission has introduced a proposal known as the “Kids Act,” aimed at enhancing online safety for children across the European Union. This new legislation mandates several strict measures, designed to ensure that online environments are safer for young people.
As previously announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the draft proposes that social media platforms will no longer be accessible to children under the age of 13. Additionally, it establishes a unified EU minimum age of 15 for minors wishing to create their own accounts on these services, ensuring a gradual approach to implementation.
Von der Leyen emphasized the shift in responsibility, stating that children today are interacting with advanced technologies that were not designed with their well-being in mind. “With our Kids Act, we are reversing the burden of proof-now the platforms must demonstrate that they are safe from the ground up.” The Act also seeks to restore control to parents, equipping them with the necessary tools to help their children navigate a safer digital world.
The “Kids Act” is built upon four foundational pillars: restricting early social media use, mandating “safety by design,” implementing age-appropriate data protection rules, and ensuring effective enforcement of these measures. Specifically, children under 15 will only be allowed access to social media with parental oversight. Furthermore, online services must be designed to block features such as infinite scrolling and unwanted contact from unknown individuals.
This legislative proposal has now been submitted to the European Parliament and the Council, initiating the official process for its review and eventual adoption.
