The European Commission has unveiled the EU Kids Act, a sweeping proposal to limit minors' access to social media. The law would ban children under 13 from using social platforms and require parental supervision for 13‑ and 14‑year‑olds, allowing independent accounts only at age 15. Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen cited evidence of harm to developing brains, emphasizing that age limits do not absolve tech companies of content responsibility.

The act mandates age‑verified accounts, removal of addictive features such as recommendation algorithms, infinite scroll, nighttime notifications, and unsolicited contact, and disables AI chatbots by default. Platforms must implement safeguards like one‑hour daily screen limits and adult controls for "mini accounts" used by younger children. Enforcement would follow the Digital Services Act framework, with penalties up to six percent of global turnover.

While the EU argues urgent action is needed for its 450 million population, the proposal faces legal challenges over free speech and practical hurdles in age verification, drawing criticism from industry groups like BITKOM.