● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact2 neutral
EU Kids Act Proposes Social Media Ban for Under-13s, Parental Supervision for 13-14
Key points
- EU Kids Act proposes social media ban for under-13s.
- Parental supervision required for 13- and 14-year-olds.
- Minimum age of 15 for independent account creation.
- Platforms must implement "safe by design" features.
- Burden of proof shifts to social media companies.
New Social Media Regulations Proposed
The European Commission has introduced the EU Kids Act, a proposal aimed at regulating minors' access to social media platforms. If adopted, the law would prohibit social media use for children under 13 and mandate parental supervision for those aged 13 and 14.
Under the proposed legislation, individuals would only be able to create their own social media accounts independently once they turn 15. Children under 13 would be restricted to specially designed child-friendly video-sharing services through accounts managed by a guardian.
Parental Controls and "Mini Accounts"
For children between 13 and 15, access to social media platforms would be through "mini accounts" created and managed by their guardians. These mini accounts would be subject to strict regulations, including limitations on social contacts and a cap on screen time, potentially set at one hour per day.
The proposal emphasizes that platforms will be required to implement "safe by design" features to protect minors. This includes integrating parental controls and restricting elements identified as addictive.
Addressing Harm and Shifting Responsibility
Ursula Von der Leyen, EU Commission president, stated that there is substantial evidence regarding the harm social media causes to developing brains and personalities. The legislation aims to address these concerns by shifting the burden of proof onto tech companies.
This initiative follows similar actions or plans in other countries, including Australia, Spain, France, China, Turkey, and the UK, which are also addressing the impact of technology on children.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
The European Commission has outlined a proposal, the EU KIDS Act, to prohibit social media access for children under 13 and set a minimum age of 15 for account creation. This initiative mandates platforms to implement "safe by design" features, including parental controls and restrictions on addictive elements, to protect minors online.
The European Commission introduced the EU Kids Act, a proposal that would ban social media access for children under 13 and require parental supervision for 13- and 14-year-olds. This legislation aims to address the documented harm social media causes to developing brains and personalities, shifting the burden of proof onto platforms.