The 'EU Kids Act' targets addictive apps to protect children online
The European Commission has proposed a single EU-wide rulebook to govern how children experience social media, video platforms, games and AI chatbots. Watch the video!
President Ursula von der Leyen introduced the EU Kids Act during her State of the Union address. The Act addresses the inconsistent online protections across the European Union, including the absence of a uniform minimum age for social media and the prevalence of addictive features such as infinite scroll and autoplay. It focuses on "safety by design," mandating platforms to demonstrate their safety before children can use them.
The proposal categorizes childhood into three age bands: 3- to 13-year-olds are limited to child-friendly platforms under adult supervision; 13- to 15-year-olds receive restricted access with parental controls; and 15- to 18-year-olds have unrestricted access under ongoing safety measures. Existing national regulations, such as France's attempt to limit users under 15, would persist but Brussels seeks to standardize them.
The Act's enforcement aligns with the Digital Services Act, with Brussels directly overseeing major platforms and funding the initiative through supervisory fees.
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