The European Union has announced one of its most ambitious digital policy shifts to date. Under the newly proposed "EU Kids Act," Brussels plans to enforce a total social media ban for children under 13, alongside strict mandatory supervision for young teens up to age 15. Following #Australia's recent move to restrict social media access for under-16s, Europe is sending a clear message to Big Tech: user safety needs to come before platform engagement. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Wednesday.
Here are the primary points shaping the discussion around this proposed policy:
Tiered Protection & "Mini-Accounts": Under the draft rules, children under 13 are completely barred from holding social media accounts. Teens aged 13 to 14 would only be permitted to use guardian-supervised "mini-accounts," equipped with default private settings, restricted messaging, and a strict 1-hour daily time cap.
Banning Addictive Features: The proposal targets core platform engagement mechanics, legally requiring tech companies to eliminate infinite scrolling, automatic notification loops, and reward systems designed to maximize screen time for minors.
Reversing the Burden of Proof: Rather than forcing users or parents to constantly adjust privacy toggles, the legislation shifts the legal burden onto tech companies, requiring them to scientifically demonstrate that their platforms and algorithms are safe before deploying them to young audiences.
Verification vs. Privacy Debate: To enforce age limits, the EU suggests using an open-source zero-knowledge proof verification system. However, privacy advocates and legal scholars warn that enforcing age checks at scale risks creating new privacy vulnerabilities and circumvention loopholes.
For more info, Visit: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/09/15/leak-eu-commission-to-pitch-social-media-restrictions-for-under-15s