Brussels: The European Commission has introduced the EU KIDS Act, a new legislative measure aimed at restricting social media access for children under the age of 13 and establishing a minimum age of 15 for minors to create their own social media accounts.
According to Anadolu Agency, the act prohibits social media platforms from allowing access to children under 13, while setting the minimum age for minors to open personal accounts at 15. For children aged 13 and 14, parents or guardians can set up 'mini accounts' accessible through their accounts, enabling access to age-appropriate content with safeguards such as limited social contacts and screen time restricted to one hour per day.
The act also permits access to "specially designed child-friendly video-sharing services" through guardian-managed accounts for younger children. Platforms will need to provide tools for parents to restrict access to adult content and limit daily usage to one hour.
The legislation imposes obligations on online services, including social media and video platforms, to protect users under 18. It seeks to eliminate addictive features, profiling-based recommendations, and unsolicited contacts from strangers. AI companions and chatbots must be turned off by default to prevent emotional dependency.
Minors' profiles will default to private settings, with geolocation, camera, and microphone access disabled. The act calls for easy methods for minors to block and mute users, manage time effectively, and ensure safe content recommendations. Additionally, online services and app stores must implement age assurance tools, with an EU age verification app available that respects privacy by not retaining identity or biometric data.
The proposal shifts the responsibility to large online platforms to ensure their services are "safe by design," requiring them to submit compliance plans to the commission and independent auditors for new features.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the urgency of this initiative, noting the premature exposure of children to complex online environments not designed with their well-being in mind. She criticized the attention-driven business models of platforms and highlighted the need for the EU to take action.
Von der Leyen stressed that the proposed age limits do not absolve tech companies of their responsibility for platform content, pointing out that platforms must now prove their safety measures. She underscored the shift from authorities needing to prove harm post-factum to requiring platforms to submit child safety plans in advance, placing safety at the forefront.
The Act aims to empower parents while holding platforms accountable for safeguarding young users, marking a significant regulatory step for the European Union.