Can the EU protect kids from the dangers of social media?
Europe considers tougher protections for children on social media
Poinews.com – European policymakers are moving toward a more interventionist approach to children’s online safety, placing greater responsibility on digital platforms rather than expecting companies to set and enforce their own safeguards. The proposed EU Kids Act would introduce age-based access rules, privacy defaults and design restrictions intended to reduce young users’ exposure to harmful content, unwanted contact and compulsive platform features.
The debate comes amid mounting concern about the effect of digital platforms on younger people. Nearly 60% of European youth are experiencing emotional and psychosocial difficulties linked to online platforms. Risks cited in the discussion include cyberbullying, privacy misuse and algorithms that can steer vulnerable users toward damaging material or patterns of engagement.
A proposed minimum age of 15
At the centre of the plan is a proposed age threshold of 15 for opening a social media account. Under the framework, children younger than that would not be able to create standard accounts on mainstream social platforms.
The rules would apply different protections at different stages of childhood. Children under the age of three would be excluded entirely from social media services. Users between three and 12 could only use closely reviewed, child-appropriate platforms designed for their age group.
For 13- and 14-year-olds, access would be possible only with formal parental approval. These users would receive tightly controlled introductory accounts rather than full social media profiles. Such accounts would include firm daily limits on screen time and would prevent messages from strangers, addressing concerns about both excessive use and contact from unknown adults.
Age checks without exposing personal data
Making age restrictions effective presents a difficult practical question: how can platforms know a user’s age without forcing children and families to hand over unnecessary personal information? The proposal seeks to address that issue through a secure and anonymous European age-verification system.
Platforms would be required to connect with approved verification tools, including the EU Age Verification App, the European Digital Identity wallet or authorised third-party applications. The objective is to confirm that a person belongs to an eligible age category while limiting the amount of identity information shared with social media companies.
That distinction matters because child protection and privacy can pull in opposite directions. Stronger verification may prevent younger children from entering services intended for older users, but poorly designed checks could create new stores of sensitive data. The success of any system will depend not only on whether it identifies age accurately, but also on whether users can trust it to keep personal details protected.
Changing the design of minor accounts
The proposal goes beyond deciding who may sign up. It would also reshape the experience offered to users who are under 18. Accounts belonging to minors would be private by default, with location tracking switched off and open direct messaging disabled.
Platforms would also face limits on features designed to keep people scrolling or returning repeatedly. Infinite feeds, automatic video playback and persistent push notifications would be prohibited for younger users. Recommendation systems driven primarily by engagement would also face restrictions, reducing the incentive to optimise a child’s feed simply for attention and time spent online.
These measures reflect a broader argument that online safety cannot be handled only through warnings, reporting buttons or parental controls. The structure of a service can influence how long a child stays engaged, what material they encounter and who can reach them. Requiring safer default settings would shift more of that responsibility from families to the companies operating the platforms.
Significant consequences for non-compliance
Companies that ignore the new obligations could face fines worth as much as 6% of their worldwide annual revenue. The size of the possible penalty is meant to ensure that safety measures are treated as core compliance requirements, rather than optional additions made after a platform has already been built.
For major technology businesses, the proposal could require changes across account creation, messaging, recommendation systems, notifications and data settings. It could also affect the way products are introduced to European users, particularly where a platform has historically offered the same experience to adults and children.
Families may see more visible protections if the framework is adopted: fewer public profiles for minors, clearer barriers against unsolicited contact and less pressure from features designed to create endless use. At the same time, the plan is likely to prompt questions about enforcement, the reliability of age assurance and the boundaries between child safety, parental authority and digital freedom.
Can regulation make online spaces safer?
The proposed framework treats children’s online safety as a design and accountability issue, not solely a matter of individual behaviour. Its supporters will view age limits, private defaults and restrictions on addictive features as overdue protections for young people navigating powerful digital systems. Critics may question whether the restrictions can be enforced consistently or whether they risk limiting young people’s access to online communities and information.
The central challenge is to create meaningful protection without turning age verification into a new threat to privacy or making the internet less accessible than necessary. If the EU Kids Act moves forward, its impact will depend on how securely the verification tools operate, how seriously platforms redesign their services and how effectively regulators enforce the rules.
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