EU Proposes Strict Digital Age Limits for Minors

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is preparing to reveal a comprehensive legislative package designed to protect minors from online harm. The proposal, dubbed the EU KIDS Act, would establish a strict age-based hierarchy for accessing social media, AI chatbots, and online games. This move responds to growing evidence linking heavy screen time and platform design to negative impacts on child mental health, following similar regulatory actions in Australia.

The plan sets a clear boundary at age 15, below which users would face significant restrictions. For children aged 13 to 14, access would be limited to introductory accounts under parental control with strict screen time caps. Younger children, between 3 and 13, would only access fully parent-controlled, child-friendly services, while those under 3 would be barred entirely. Platforms violating these rules could face fines of up to 6% of their annual global turnover.

Age verification raises privacy concerns

While the intent is protective, the mechanism for enforcement has drawn sharp criticism from digital rights groups. The EU plans to roll out a centralized age-check app, but privacy advocates warn this creates a massive data collection risk. European consumer organization BEUC argues that age verification is not a perfect solution and could compromise the data protection of the very children it aims to shield.

Critics from groups like EDRi suggest that restricting access merely delays exposure rather than solving the root problem. They argue that once the age limit is reached, teenagers will still encounter predatory and manipulative system designs. The debate highlights a tension between immediate protective measures and the long-term need for safer platform architectures that do not rely on constant surveillance.

Ban on addictive design features

A core component of the draft legislation targets the engineering of engagement. The rules would mandate a ban on addictive design elements, such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, for any service accessible to minors. This goes beyond previous Digital Services Act requirements, which have already forced companies like Meta and TikTok to modify their interfaces, but Brussels believes those measures are insufficient to prevent harmful usage patterns in young users.

Political pressure drives regulatory action

The proposal emerges amid intense political pressure from member states including France, Denmark, and Greece. France recently saw a national ban struck down by courts on freedom of expression grounds, prompting a reworked proposal. With Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attending the keynote, the EU aims to present a unified front against digital harms, balancing parental demands for safety with the legal complexities of regulating global tech giants.