EU drafts strict ‘Kids Act’ for online platforms

EU policymakers are advancing a draft legislative proposal, informally referred to as the “EU Kids Act,” designed to harmonise online protections for minors across the bloc. The text would introduce an EU‑wide minimum age of 15 for opening an autonomous social‑media account, aiming to standardise rules that currently vary by country and service.

Under the draft, the new framework would apply across the European Union and would be structured around age‑based tiers. The proposal is positioned as part of a broader tightening of digital rules that already includes the Digital Services Act for large online platforms.

The proposal sets out differentiated access for younger users. Children aged 13 and 14 would be able to use “introductory” accounts, which must be set up by parents, come with limited features and allow for parental monitoring.

For children aged three to 13, access would be limited to fully parent‑controlled “child‑friendly” services. These services would need to be designed for younger users and give parents control over what features and content are available.

The draft would deny access to covered online services for children under the age of three. The overall structure is intended to ensure that independently managed accounts and full‑feature access remain unavailable to users below 15.

The scope of the proposed law goes beyond conventional social‑networking platforms. It would also cover video‑sharing platforms, online games and AI‑powered services described as chatbots or AI companions.

By including these categories, the draft targets a range of services where minors increasingly spend time and may be exposed to algorithmic feeds, interactive features and in‑game or conversational mechanics that can be highly engaging.

Covered services would be required to adopt “safe‑by‑design” principles when dealing with minors. The draft would ban or restrict features such as infinite scrolling, artificial notifications and certain reward mechanisms that are considered particularly engaging or habit‑forming.

The proposal would tighten controls on recommender systems to reduce the risk of users being drawn into so‑called algorithmic “rabbit holes.” It would also require minors’ accounts to be private by default, disable risky settings by default and ensure that reporting tools and parental controls are easy to find and use.

On enforcement, the draft shifts the burden of proof onto platforms, requiring them to demonstrate compliance with the new obligations. It would also introduce a supervisory fee on tech companies to finance regulatory oversight and enforcement activities.

Online services already designated as systemic under the Digital Services Act’s stricter regime would face additional obligations. Before rolling out new features that could affect children, these services would be required to seek authorisation from the European Commission.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to preview the legislative package during her State of the Union address on 16 September 2026. She is then due to present the proposal alongside EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen on 17 September 2026.

The formal legislative text is scheduled to be published on Thursday, 17 September 2026. Once unveiled, the draft will enter the EU’s legislative process, where member states and the European Parliament will consider and negotiate its provisions.