European Commission introduces EU Kids Act to regulate social media access for minors

On September 17, 2026, the European Commission formally approved the "EU Kids Act," a legislative proposal designed to harmonize regulations across the European Union regarding minors' access to social media, video platforms, and artificial intelligence systems. This decision follows a series of national initiatives in France, where President Emmanuel Macron has been pushing for stricter protections for children under 15 after previous attempts were blocked by the French Constitutional Council for being disproportionate.

The new EU framework adopts a phased approach based on age. Children under 13 are prohibited from using social media platforms entirely, with minor exceptions for supervised video-sharing services. For those aged 13 to 15, personal accounts are banned; instead, they may only use "mini-accounts" managed and monitored by parents, which feature restricted functionality and a daily one-hour time limit. For individuals aged 15 to 18, platforms are now mandated to implement "safety by design" features.

Crucially, the regulation shifts the burden of proof to technology companies, requiring platforms to demonstrate that their services are safe and age-appropriate. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that these measures are necessary to curb screen addiction and protect child mental health, asserting that platforms must be held accountable for their design choices.