EU Targets Under-13 Social Media Access

The European Commission has proposed banning children under 13 from social media, increasing pressure on technology companies to strengthen age controls and redesign services used by younger audiences. The proposal would extend safeguards across social media, gaming, video platforms and AI services.

Under the planned EU Kids Act, users aged 13 to 15 would require parental oversight, while platforms serving minors would face tighter restrictions on features designed to maximise engagement. These include infinite scrolling, reward systems, profiling-based recommendations and unsolicited contact from strangers.

AI companions and chatbots would also be disabled by default for users under 18, reflecting growing concern over how automated systems interact with children. The measures would shift more responsibility towards platform design rather than relying mainly on parents to manage online risks.

Age verification would become central to enforcement. Technology companies would need stronger systems for confirming users’ ages, alongside expanded parental controls and easier tools for blocking or muting unwanted contact. Companies that fail to comply could face significant financial penalties.

The proposal also creates a technical challenge. More accurate age checks may require stronger identity verification, yet collecting additional personal information could increase privacy and cybersecurity risks. Platforms will need to strengthen safeguards without creating new vulnerabilities.

The rules still require approval from EU member states and the European Parliament. If adopted, they could significantly change how major digital platforms design accounts, recommendation systems and engagement features for younger users.

The wider shift is towards regulation being built directly into product design. Age controls, algorithm settings and default protections could become standard requirements, forcing platforms to treat child safety as part of their core infrastructure rather than a separate compliance measure.