The EU could set a minimum age for access to social media

The European Commission is set to present the KIDS Act proposal on Thursday, September 17, a legislative project that would introduce common rules across all 27 member states to protect children in the digital environment. Preparatory documents reviewed by POLITICO show that the measures will not target only TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, but also video platforms, online games, artificial intelligence-based chatbots, and “AI companion” services. Tools used exclusively for educational purposes would be exempt.

The project could establish a single minimum age for access to social media, but the exact threshold has not yet been announced. The Commission is also examining the “safe by design” principle, which would require platforms to reduce risks by limiting features that can encourage compulsive use, such as automated recommendations, notifications, and autoplay.

Brussels is also preparing oversight mechanisms inspired by the DSA and AI Act, including possible fees for high-risk companies. The EU already has the technology needed for age verification without transmitting all the data from an identity document.

The proposal will have to be negotiated and approved by the European Parliament and the member states, meaning the rules will not enter into force immediately.