EU plans new social media access rules for children under 15

The European Commission will propose new rules restricting minors' access to social media and video-sharing platforms until they reach the age of 15.

According to Report, citing POLITICO, the information was provided by an informed source and outlined in a relevant document.

The European Commission is expected to present a new legislative proposal, the EU KIDS Act, in the coming days, establishing age restrictions and introducing new safety requirements for social media networks and other platforms.

According to the documents, the proposal is aimed at creating a multi-tiered system of access to social media under parental supervision for children under 15. It would not amount to a complete ban but would instead provide for different types of accounts depending on the user's age.

Accounts for children under 13 would be controlled by guardians and subject to "strict safety standards." Teenagers aged 13 to 15 would have access to "introductory" accounts with restrictions on communication with strangers and screen time, as well as parental control features. From the age of 15, teenagers would be able to create their own accounts.

The move comes after months of intense pressure from heads of government, including French President Emmanuel Macron, to place the issue high on the political agenda. Austria, Denmark, France, Greece and Spain are adopting national laws restricting children's access to social media.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to provide further details in her State of the Union address to members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

The new EU proposal would apply to social media networks, video-sharing platforms, online games, chatbots and AI assistants, but would not cover educational tools.