The European Commission has adopted the proposal imposing age limits and strict rules for TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

The European Commission adopted the EU Kids Act proposal on Thursday, limiting children’s access to social media and imposing stricter safety rules on online platforms. The text will be examined by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, meaning the measures have not yet entered into force.

The proposal bans children under 13 from accessing social media platforms and sets the age of 15 for opening an independent account. Minors aged 13 to 15 could use mini-accounts created and managed through their parents’ or guardians’ accounts, with limited contacts and a maximum of one hour of use per day. Children aged 3 to 13 would have access only to video services designed for them, through accounts managed by adults.

The rules target platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, as well as online games, chatbots and artificial intelligence companions. They would have to eliminate features that create dependence, infinite scrolling, nighttime notifications and profiling-based recommendations. Minors’ profiles would be private by default, while location services, the camera and the microphone would be disabled.

Platforms and app stores would be required to verify users’ ages, including through a European tool that does not store identity documents or biometric data. The Commission also proposes reversing the burden of proof: providers would have to demonstrate that their services are safe from the design stage. The legislative consultation will begin after the act is presented to Parliament and the Council of the EU.