Brussels, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The European Commission on Thursday proposed new EU-wide restrictions on children’s access to social media, including a ban for those under 13 and a minimum age of 15 for minors to independently open social media accounts.
Under the proposed EU KIDS Act, children below 13 would be barred from using social media, while those aged 13 to 15 would only be permitted to use limited accounts created through a parent or guardian’s account.
Such accounts would include restrictions on social contacts and screen time, with usage capped at up to one hour a day.
The proposed legislation would also require social media platforms, video-sharing services, online video games, AI companions and chatbots used by minors to be designed with child safety as a priority.
It would place restrictions on potentially addictive features such as infinite scrolling, certain reward mechanisms and push notifications during sleeping hours.
Social media profiles belonging to minors would have to be private by default, while access to geolocation, cameras and microphones would be switched off by default, Xinhua News Agency reported.
AI companions and chatbots would also be disabled by default for minors. They would be prohibited from simulating interpersonal relationships in ways that could encourage emotional dependency.
The proposal further calls for online services and app stores to introduce age-assurance mechanisms. The European Commission said its EU age-verification app could be used without retaining users’ identity documents or biometric data.
The proposed act would also shift the burden of proof for very large online platforms, requiring providers to demonstrate that their services are safe for children.
Platforms would have to submit compliance plans for independent auditing before introducing relevant services or features.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the proposal was aimed at putting parents “back in the driving seat” while requiring platforms to demonstrate that their services are safe by design.
The proposal has now been submitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for consideration and approval.
Enforcement would rely on existing mechanisms under the Digital Services Act and the Artificial Intelligence Act. Companies found violating the rules could face fines of up to 6 per cent of their total worldwide annual turnover.
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