EU seeks to restrict social media for children under 13
The European Commission proposes phased access, but the plan is not yet European law.
The European Commission wants to stop children under 13 from having their own social media accounts. Thirteen- and 14-year-olds would use parent-managed accounts, while young people aged 15 and over should be able to open an account independently.
The proposal is set out in the EU KIDS Act, a draft regulation on protecting minors online. The Commission wants to introduce common age rules in all member states. It is therefore a proposal that still requires consultation and decision-making, not a ban that takes effect immediately.
According to the Commission, children under 13 should not have their own account on social networks and certain video platforms. Thirteen- and 14-year-olds would gain access only through a restricted account linked to a parent or guardian. The Commission mentions parental controls, approval of contacts and a daily time limit of no more than one hour.
From the age of 15, young people would be allowed to open an account independently. The proposed rules are not limited to social media. Video platforms, online games, AI chatbots and app stores should also be made safer for minors, according to the Commission.
Age verification is a key element. The Commission says that simply entering a date of birth would no longer be sufficient. Age would have to be checked through certified systems, with platforms needing to know only whether someone is above or below a particular age threshold under the proposal.
This also raises a privacy question. The Commission says platforms would not need to receive identity documents and that so-called zero-knowledge technology should prevent age verification from leading to identification or tracking. In practice, much will depend on the technical implementation, oversight by regulators and the ways in which children try to circumvent the rules.
For platforms, the proposed law would involve more than age verification. The Commission also wants to restrict addictive design choices affecting minors, such as endless scrolling, unwanted notifications and recommendation systems geared primarily towards maximum engagement. According to the Commission, the public consultation runs until 26 November 2026. It will then become clear which elements survive politically and legally.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The European Commission has published a proposal for common age rules.
- The proposal still has to go through the European legislative process.
- Age verification and safe default settings are central elements.
Left
Arguments Children must be protected from addictive design, harmful content and commercial pressure; responsibility should rest primarily with platforms.
Values Children's rights, public protection and limiting market power.
Consequences Stricter rules could reduce risks, but must not exclude children from useful online communities or lead to disproportionate data collection.
Centre
Arguments A European minimum standard prevents fragmented rules, but age verification must be arranged in a privacy-friendly, workable and verifiable way.
Values Proportionality, legal certainty and the protection of minors.
Consequences A harmonised system could provide clarity, while technical errors and high compliance costs should be limited.
Right
Arguments Parents should retain primary responsibility and platforms should not be turned into educators; general European controls could go too far.
Values Parental authority, individual freedom and a restrained state.
Consequences Fewer central rules could protect innovation and anonymity, but might leave differences in protection between countries.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The reporting clearly distinguishes between the proposal and current law. The age rules and technical obligations were checked directly with the European Commission and compared with AP reporting.
- confirmed The European Commission has presented the EU KIDS Act as a proposal. — The Commission explicitly describes the KIDS Act as a proposal for a regulation. source
- confirmed The proposal does not allow children under 13 to have their own social media accounts. — The proposed age framework appears in the official explanation. source
- confirmed For 13- and 14-year-olds, a parent-managed account with a time limit is proposed. — The Commission mentions parental controls and a maximum of one hour per day. source
Editor's note
The age thresholds and design obligations come from the European Commission's proposal. The regulation has not yet been adopted, so its consequences for users in the Netherlands remain uncertain.Sources
- EU KIDS Act to restrict social media platforms’ access to children in the EU — Europese Commissie
- The KIDS Act explained — Europese Commissie
- EU chief proposes bloc-wide social media ban for kids under 13 — Associated Press
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „sociale media”
- De Telegraaf — „sociale media”
- de Volkskrant — „sociale media”