EU wants social media ban for children under thirteen

The European Union has announced the Kids Act, a legislative proposal aimed at creating a safer online environment for minors. Under the proposed rules, children under thirteen would be prohibited from creating social media accounts. Adolescents aged thirteen to fifteen would be permitted to use these platforms only with parental supervision and subject to a daily time limit of one hour. For those aged fifteen and older, social media usage would be allowed without parental oversight, provided the platforms adhere to strict safety standards, such as eliminating addictive design features like infinite scrolling.

Furthermore, the initiative intends to restrict online games, streaming services, and AI chatbots that do not meet new safety criteria. The Dutch government has expressed support for these measures, having previously advocated for a minimum age requirement of fifteen for unsafe digital platforms. The official legislative text is scheduled for presentation, after which it must undergo a lengthy approval process involving the European Parliament and member states. The final regulations remain subject to negotiation and potential adjustments over the coming months.