European Union Move on Social Media Age Limit for Children
The European Commission has prepared a new draft law restricting children under 15 from using social media without parental consent.
The European Commission is preparing to announce the "EU Children's Act" draft, which it has prepared to increase the safety of children on social media and digital platforms. Under the new regulation, phased rules are being introduced based on age groups.
Announcement Schedule of the Draft Law
The European Commission (EC) is preparing to officially announce the "EU Children's Act" prepared to ensure the safety of children.
European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill stated at the daily press briefing in Brussels that the proposal will be officially presented on September 17.
Digital Tools Covered
The new regulation will cover not only social media and video sharing platforms, but also video games and artificial intelligence-powered chatbots.
Educational applications, public institution services, and office and industry-focused artificial intelligence applications will be kept outside this scope.
Phased Rules by Age Groups
Children under the age of three will be completely banned from accessing social media and high-risk digital services.
Children between the ages of three and 13 will only be able to access services suitable for children under adult supervision.
Parental Consent and Supervision Conditions
Children in the 13-15 age group will be granted the right to use social media platforms with limited features, and parental consent will be required for those under 15.
Teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 will be allowed to access platforms without parental consent, but security rules will also apply to this group.
Obligations for Technology Companies
Companies such as Meta and Google will be required to perform age verification for users opening new accounts.
By imposing a safety-by-design approach on technology companies, addictive mechanisms such as infinite scrolling and artificial notifications will be banned.