EU's Kids Act to Ban Social Media for Under-13s, Curb Chatbot Access
The EU will ban children under 15 from using social media platforms, some gaming platforms, and AI chatbots without parental supervision. The ban is set to be outlined in the Kids Act, which will be published on Thursday, reports Financial Times . "No social media under the age of 13. No personal account under the age of 15," said the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in a speech…
The European Union plans to prohibit children under 15 from using social media platforms, certain gaming platforms, and AI chatbots without parental consent. The proposed ban, part of the Kids Act, will be published on Thursday, according to the Financial Times.
In a speech on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that no social media accounts should be allowed for children under the age of 13, and no personal accounts should be created for those under 15.
According to a draft proposal seen by the Financial Times, children under 13 will only be permitted access if a parent is present to supervise them. Children aged 13 to 15 will require parental consent to create accounts, with parental controls and restrictions such as time limits in place.
Social media companies, online gaming services, and AI chatbot providers will be mandated to implement measures to protect children from abuse and addictive behaviors. These companies will also need to ensure their designs do not foster unhealthy emotional attachments or expose children to harmful interactions. Additionally, they must verify users' ages using an official age verification app.
Penalties for non-compliance could amount to up to 6% of a company's global annual revenue.
Written by urgent.news from MacRumors's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
