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European Commission Proposes EU Kids Act to Restrict Children's Access to Social Media and AI Chatbots

September 17, 2026 at 03:09 EDT

Policy & Regulation
Security

The European Commission adopted an EU Kids Act proposal on Sept. 17 that would set bloc-wide age limits for children's use of social media and impose safe-design duties on platforms serving minors. The plan bars social media for users under 13, blocks personal accounts before 15, allows supervised mini accounts for 13- to 14-year-olds, and requires safer accounts for all users under 18.

Sept. 17, 2026 - European Commission

EU Kids Act sets an age ladder

The proposal would bar social media under 13, block personal accounts before 15, and require safe design for every account held by a minor.

No social media below this age

No personal account below this age

Safe design required for minor accounts

Possible turnover penalty in draft accounts

The age thresholds, drawn to scale

Each stacked block represents one year.

13Social media gate

15Personal account gate

18Safe-design coverage

How the duty shifts

Set age gate

New accounts face age checks.

Limit risky features

Addictive design moves into scope.

Prove safety

Platforms carry the burden.

Supportive reading

A common EU rule could replace fragmented national approaches and put product safety duties on platforms.

Open concern

Age checks and parental controls may create privacy risks, while thresholds may not change engagement-driven business models.

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