New social media ban proposal from the European Union for children under 15
The European Commission has prepared a new regulatory package that bans individuals under 15 from opening personal social media accounts and provides for parent-supervised mini accounts.
With the new legislative proposal brought to the agenda by the European Union, children under 15 will be banned from opening personal social media accounts, while parent-supervised and time-limited mini account models are planned for the 13-15 age group.
Graduated Age Limits and Bans
According to new proposals prepared by the European Union, individuals under the age of 15 will be banned from opening personal accounts on social media platforms. For this regulation to officially come into life, it needs approval from the EU Council, consisting of member states, and the European Parliament.
Parent-Supervised Mini Accounts
With the new regulation, parent supervision is foreseen to come into play for children between the ages of 13 and 15. Children in this age bracket will be allowed to create mini accounts offering limited social interaction, which they can access through their parents' accounts.
Daily One Hour Screen Time
To protect children, the EU Commission demands that the services offered in mini accounts include limited social interaction and protective measures such as a maximum of one hour of screen time per day.
Status of Existing Accounts and Audit
Following the entry into force of the new rules, platforms will be obliged to check whether existing account holders are under the age of 15 within six months. The accounts of those under 15 or whose age cannot be determined will be deactivated.
Approved Age Verification Systems
To eliminate the possibility of children providing false age information, approved age verification will be introduced under the Kids Act. Age verification will be carried out through certified solutions independent of the platforms, and children will not be required to give their identity information directly to the platforms.
Free Digital Verification Methods
A free EU age verification application and, in the future, the European Digital Identity Wallet will be used in the process. The EU Commission wants every member state to offer at least one free way for users to prove their age, including those who do not have a digital identity.