Brussels: The European Commission has put forward the EU KIDS Act, a legislative proposal designed to regulate children's access to social media and enhance safety measures for minors online. The initiative introduces a phased approach to social media use among children, sets age thresholds across the EU, and places accountability on technology companies to ensure their platforms are child-safe.

According to Anadolu Agency, the proposal outlines specific age-related restrictions. Children aged 3 to under 13 would be barred from accessing social media services but could use specialized, child-friendly video-sharing services managed by their parents. For children aged 13 and 14, 'mini accounts' would be available, allowing restricted social media access under parental supervision. At 15, minors would be able to create independent accounts, marking a transition to unsupervised social media use.

The KIDS Act mandates significant changes for platforms. It requires them to incorporate 'safety by design' principles, eliminating addictive features and unwanted interactions for users under 18. Features like infinite scrolling and disruptive push notifications would be prohibited, and minors' profiles would default to private settings. Platforms must also implement robust age-verification systems and obtain compliance approval from independent auditors.

The proposal aims to address concerns about children's early exposure to digital environments and the need to harmonize regulations across the EU. The Commission underscores that the current disparity in national rules impedes the Digital Single Market and that a unified approach would enhance child safety.

The EU KIDS Act is currently under review by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The Commission emphasizes the urgency of adopting the proposal to provide immediate protections for minors online.