EU is set to propose ban on social media and AI chatbots for under-15s

The European Union plans to introduce a comprehensive ban on social media, video-sharing platforms, AI chatbots, and online games for individuals under the age of 15, in an effort to safeguard children from potential online risks, according to a European Commission document obtained by Reuters. This precautionary measure is part of the EU Kids Act, which will be presented by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Tech Chief Henna Virkkunen on Thursday, with some details possibly announced in von der Leyen's upcoming State of the Union address.

The overarching goal is to enable minors to capitalize on the benefits of digital services while shielding them from potential abuse and exploitation, ensuring that technology companies are restricted rather than the reverse. The proposal allows for age-appropriate access to various services, with companies required to impose age-restricted restrictions based on the nature of the service and the age group.

While children aged 15 and above can independently create accounts, those between 13 and 14 would need parental consent to establish introductory profiles on social media and video-sharing platforms, subject to tight controls on contacts and usage time. Children aged 3 to 12 would have fully supervised accounts, restricted to child-friendly services adhering to stringent safety standards.

Minors under the age of 3 would not be permitted access to these services. Although the specifics of the draft may evolve before the official announcement, the Commission must collaborate with EU member states and the European Parliament in the ensuing months to finalize the draft before it can be enacted. The draft outlines stringent requirements for companies, mandating the elimination of addictive designs and harmful content feeds, as well as the provision of tools enabling children to report harmful content and effective parental control mechanisms.

Social media and video-sharing platforms must verify the age of users upon account creation, while online gaming platforms must confirm the age of children before permitting game downloads. Companies assert their commitment to these measures, with many already setting the minimum age for social media accounts at 13 or older.