The EU Bans Social Media For Under-13s
The bloc wants to curb Big Tech’s grip on children with its new EU KIDS ACTS, but age checks, parental oversight, and privacy concerns could make its plan difficult to implement.
European Commission President von der Leyen has announced a total ban on social media for children under 13 in her State of the Union speech. This ban is part of the EU Kids Act, which the Commission will unveil in full on Thursday. Children aged 13 to 15 will be allowed to access social media through mini accounts supervised by parents and guardians, with limited features for one hour per day.
Platforms will also have to meet safe design obligations for users up to 18, and the Union plans to tackle addictive design further in the upcoming Digital Fairness Act in Autumn. Von der Leyen expressed concern over the power of Big Tech and the addictive features they offer, stating that Europe has the power to set rules, not Big Tech.
The EU was expected to follow other countries in restricting children's access to social media, which has been linked to sleep loss, anxiety, self-harm, and even the deaths of European children. The ban, expected to take until 2029 to fully implement, will require companies to comply with a single set of EU-wide rules, which is seen as a positive step by Ashurst Perkins Coie technology lawyer Arnav Joshi.
However, the measures still place oversight on both guardians and social media platforms, potentially risking privacy infringements.
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- The EU Bans Social Media For Under-13s wired.com
