Explainer-How the EU's age-verification app for children would work

On September 18, the European Commission proposed a ban on children under 13 accessing social media platforms, with parent-supervised accounts allowed until the age of 15. The EU has developed a free, open-source age verification app to enforce this rule. This app, which is being piloted in seven European countries, will be available across the EU by the end of 2026.

It will help platforms determine if a user is old enough to access restricted content, without revealing the user's identity. Member states will designate issuers to handle issuance and verification. Once approved by the EU and Parliament, the regulation will become law, affecting 450 million people across 27 countries.