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EU Restricts Social Media Access for Minors
16 Sep
Summary
- Children under 13 will be banned from social media.
- Minors aged 13-15 will have supervised mini accounts.
- EU aims to curb addictive design and protect children.
The European Union has announced significant restrictions on social media access for minors across its member states. President Ursula von der Leyen detailed plans within the upcoming EU KIDS ACT to ban social media for all children under 13.
For children aged 13 to 15, access will be permitted only through supervised mini accounts with limited functionality, restricted to one hour daily. Platforms will also be required to implement safe design features for users up to 18, with further regulations anticipated in the Digital Fairness Act.
These initiatives are a response to concerns about social media's impact, including sleep loss, anxiety, and self-harm among European youth. Many EU member states were already developing similar legislation, highlighting a widespread effort to protect minors online.
Legal experts anticipate the full implementation may take several years, but a unified EU approach is expected to provide welcome clarity for technology companies. The tiered system is designed to be proportionate and withstand potential legal challenges.
Challenges remain in effectively enforcing age verification without compromising user privacy or experience. The EU plans to leverage its existing age verification app for broader application across different age groups.
