Social media law makes it harder for children to lie about their age

The European Commission has introduced the Kids Act, a new proposal aimed at curbing the influence of social media on children and enforcing stricter age verification. Under the plan, children under thirteen would be prohibited from using social media platforms, while those aged thirteen to fifteen would require parental supervision and face strict time limits. By fifteen, teenagers could manage their own accounts, provided the platforms avoid addictive design elements like infinite scrolling. Tech companies would be held accountable for ensuring their algorithms are child-safe, preventing contact with strangers, and maintaining default privacy settings.

To enforce these age limits, the EU suggests using privacy-focused identification apps, though challenges regarding implementation and data protection remain. Supporters, including researchers and political figures, view the proposal as a necessary step toward societal norm shifts similar to historical changes in alcohol laws. However, experts emphasize that legislation alone is insufficient; digital literacy and parental guidance remain essential components of protecting children in the digital age. The proposal is currently awaiting review by the European Parliament and member states.