EU unveils plan to restrict social media access for children

The EU has proposed a gradual approach to children using social media, with those aged 13 to 15 only able to access platforms for an hour a day via "mini accounts" set up through their parent or guardian's social media account. 

Under the EU Kids Act, the European Commission said social media companies would need to prove platforms were safe by design or face fines of up to 6% of their global sales.  

The restrictions would apply to TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, as well as AI chatbots, online games, and video-sharing platforms such as YouTube. 

Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission, said:  "Today, our children are engaging with some of the most sophisticated technology ever created, and it was not created with children's well-being and development in mind.” 

Von der Leyen added that technology companies would have to submit detailed child safety plans as part of the plans. 

There would also be a ban on addictive features, profiling-based recommender feeds, infinite scroll, reward tricks, and unsolicited contact from strangers. Likewise, AI companions and chatbots must be turned off by default. 

Some EU countries have already announced their own plans to restrict social media for children, including France and Spain. A ban for under-16s is set to come into force in the UK in the spring of 2027. 

The plans need to be agreed by EU member states and approved by the European Parliament. 

According to Evan Shapiro's rapid-fire talent programme keynote on the Future Tech Ignite stage, to survive, this industry must redefine broadcast, move beyond defunct binaries like "TV viewer" and "mobile user", and put its consumer at the centre of every decision. Discover more here.