EU to propose curbing social media, online games for under 15s

The European Union plans to introduce new legislation to limit access to social media, video-sharing platforms, chatbots and online games for children under the age of 15, according to a draft legal document. This proposed law, known as the “EU KIDS Act,” would ban minors from creating their own accounts and instead require parental supervision for younger children.

A tiered system of access would apply for children aged 13 and 14, who would need parental permission to set up “introductory” accounts with limited features and strict screen time usage. Children aged three to 13 would be able to access "fully parent-controlled accounts on 'child-friendly' services" with stringent safety standards, while those under three would have no access to social media or other potentially harmful services.

The EU aims to make digital platforms "safe by design" by removing addictive features such as infinite scrolling, artificial notifications, and certain reward systems. The European Commission will also enforce a supervisory fee on platforms to fund the new regulations. The EU acknowledges that existing rules, including the Digital Services Act, are insufficient due to the absence of outright bans on problematic features.

The proposed law would also regulate recommended systems, such as algorithms, to control the content shared with children and prevent potential harm.