EU proposes strict social media curbs for under-15s with parental controls

The European Commission has unveiled legislation that would fundamentally reshape how children across the EU interact with social media, drawing a hard line at age 15. Under the proposed EU Kids Act, children younger than 13 would be barred from social media platforms entirely. Those between 13 and 15 could access platforms only through accounts created and controlled by their parents or guardians, with usage capped at one hour per day. Only at 15 would a young person be permitted to establish their own account. The restrictions would apply not just to familiar apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, but also to YouTube, video-sharing services, AI chatbots, and online games.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen framed the move as returning authority to parents. "Too many children are being exposed too early to an online world they are not ready to navigate," she said, pointing to the permanence of digital mistakes and the way bullying can follow a child beyond the schoolyard. The legislation would require social media companies to demonstrate that their platforms are safe by design—meaning they must eliminate features designed to encourage compulsive use, such as infinite scroll, autoplaying videos, and algorithmic recommendations tailored to keep users engaged. Companies that fail to meet these standards would face fines of up to 6 percent of their global annual sales. Von der Leyen emphasized that age restrictions alone would not exempt tech companies from responsibility for the content on their platforms. Each company would be required to submit detailed child safety plans and ensure that for every user under 18, the principle of safety by design is applied.

The proposal builds on months of escalating pressure on tech platforms. In July, the European Commission found that Meta's design choices on Facebook and Instagram could encourage compulsive use, particularly among young people. Meta disputed the findings, saying the company had taken significant steps to protect teenagers. The same company agreed in August to an $18 billion settlement with US states and territories over claims that its platforms harmed children, though Meta denied wrongdoing as part of the deal. The EU Kids Act represents a more comprehensive attempt to regulate the relationship between children and digital platforms at the continental level.

Several EU member states have already moved on their own. France and Spain have announced plans to restrict social media for minors, but the new EU-wide legislation would supersede those national efforts. The regulation would be legally binding across all member states, and the Commission has reportedly warned some countries that they would need to repeal existing national laws once the act takes effect. This centralized approach reflects a determination to prevent a patchwork of different rules across Europe.

The path to implementation, however, is uncertain. France offers a cautionary example. The Macron government drafted legislation banning social media for under-15s, but the country's highest court blocked it last month on freedom of expression grounds. French ministers have since revised their approach. Critics of social media bans for children have raised privacy concerns, particularly about age verification processes that might require teenagers to submit personal information. The Commission has said it would use an existing EU age verification app that collects no personal data and shares none with platforms, but skepticism about such systems remains.

Australia's experience provides another warning. That country banned social media for under-16s last year, but enforcement has proven difficult. As of this month, no tech company has been fined despite research showing that many under-16s continue to access platforms. The UK is preparing to implement a similar ban for under-16s in spring of next year, which will offer another test case for how such restrictions work in practice. The EU Kids Act still requires approval from member states and the European Parliament, and tech companies are expected to mount significant opposition during the debate. The Commission's survey data showed that 92 percent of EU respondents consider strengthening children's online protection a top policy priority, but translating public support into enforceable rules that actually change behavior has proven far more complicated than the numbers suggest.