# EU Proposes Ban on Social Media for Children Under 13 New legislation would enforce age limits and parental controls on social platforms. - **Source:** [Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews](https://brifing.si/source/16dd2da6-3eea-4d1e-b34f-45e846cdf037) - **Published:** 2026-09-17 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/28d2b994-ca58-4808-b42e-23c878118546 ## Strict age-based access tiers The EU Kids Act proposes a complete ban on social media access for children under 13. Those aged 13-14 would require parental supervision through sub-accounts, while only 15-year-olds could create independent accounts. The legislation introduces 'mini accounts' for younger children, limited to one hour of daily screen time and restricted content. This represents the EU's most comprehensive attempt yet to regulate minors' digital access, building on existing concerns about social media's impact on developing brains. ## Targeting addictive platform features The proposal specifically bans design elements that create compulsive usage patterns. This includes recommendation algorithms that push harmful content, infinite scroll interfaces, and nighttime push notifications. AI chatbots would be disabled by default to prevent emotional dependency. These measures directly challenge core engagement tactics used by major platforms, marking a significant shift in regulatory approach from content moderation to interface design restrictions. ## Novel age verification requirements Platforms must implement age checks for new accounts and estimate ages of existing users through proxies like credit card details. The EU mandates privacy-preserving methods that avoid storing identity documents. This addresses previous implementation challenges seen in Australia, where age verification proved difficult. The proposed EU verification app represents a technical solution balancing privacy with compliance needs, though industry groups remain skeptical about feasibility. ## Parental control mandates For supervised accounts, platforms must provide tools for parents to limit screen time to one hour daily and control content exposure. The act requires special interfaces for these sub-accounts that restrict social interactions and filter age-inappropriate material. These provisions aim to give parents concrete mechanisms to manage their children's digital experiences, rather than relying on platform self-regulation. ## Enforcement and penalties Compliance plans would leverage existing Digital Services Act structures, with potential fines reaching 6% of global revenue. The legislation introduces a 90-day fast-track enforcement process, reflecting urgency concerns. However, the proposal faces legal challenges - France's top court recently blocked similar measures as free speech violations. The Commission hasn't specified exact penalty amounts, leaving room for negotiation during implementation. ## Industry pushback concerns Germany's BITKOM association criticizes the proposal as duplicative of existing DSA regulations and technically challenging to implement. Age verification remains a key friction point, with platforms wary of privacy implications and implementation costs. Major tech firms like Meta haven't yet responded, but previous resistance to similar measures suggests potential legal challenges ahead, particularly around design restriction mandates. ## Global precedent potential Covering 450 million EU residents, this would become the world's largest social media age restriction regime. The addictive feature bans represent uncharted regulatory territory that could influence other jurisdictions. Unlike US state-level laws focusing on content, the EU approach targets platform architecture itself. Success could spur similar measures worldwide, while failure may chill future tech regulation attempts. ## Balancing act ahead The proposal attempts to reconcile child protection with digital rights, facing criticism from both safety advocates and free speech proponents. Its passage isn't guaranteed given prior legal setbacks in member states. The legislation's true impact hinges on enforcement rigor and platform compliance strategies. As the first major economy to target engagement algorithms directly, the EU's experiment could redefine youth digital experiences globally. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.engadget.com/2261071/europes-eu-kids-act-would-ban-social-media-access-for-children-under-13/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._