EU proposes ban on under-13s using social media without parental consent
The EU proposed the EU Kids Act to restrict under-13s’ social media use with parental oversight.
Why it matters: This pending legislation will reshape social media compliance and child data privacy standards across Europe, affecting global platforms and legal obligations.
- The EU Kids Act bans children under 13 from social media without parent-controlled accounts.
- A tiered system grants restricted access for ages 13–15 and full accounts for users 15 and older.
- Platforms must deploy robust age verification using official IDs and privacy-preserving zero-knowledge proofs.
- Meta is preliminarily found in breach of the Digital Services Act for allowing under-13s on Facebook and Instagram.
The European Commission has proposed the EU Kids Act, aiming to standardize social media restrictions across all 27 member states.
Contrary to earlier inaccuracies, the Act targets children under 13 years old, banning their unsupervised social media use. Under-13s will only be allowed on platforms through accounts controlled by parents or guardians.
The legislation sets a tiered access model: under-13s require parental control, users aged 13 to 15 receive restricted 'introductory' accounts with limited features, and those 15 and older can access full accounts. This framework was detailed by NewsBriefing.eu.
To enforce these age limits, platforms must implement strong verification methods. The EU developed an official age verification app that uses government-issued IDs or digital identity documents enhanced by zero-knowledge proofs — a cryptographic technique that confirms age without exposing other personal data — to protect user privacy, according to Euronews.
Separately, the European Commission has preliminarily found that Meta’s platforms Facebook and Instagram violated the Digital Services Act by failing to prevent children under 13 from accessing their services. Specific member states such as France and Spain have introduced or plan to enact similar rules at the national level.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, "This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children," emphasizing the intent to protect minors online.
The EU Kids Act remains a proposal and requires approval from all 27 member states before it becomes law. This process leaves the timeline uncertain but signals a critical shift in child online safety and privacy law that will affect global platform compliance and user protections.
By the numbers:
- Under 13 — banned from social media without parental control
- Ages 13–15 — access restricted 'introductory' accounts
- April 29, 2026 — Meta breach decision date under Digital Services Act
Yes, but: The EU Kids Act is still a proposal undergoing member state approval, so its final form and enforcement timeline are not yet confirmed.
What's next: The EU’s 27 member states will debate and vote on the EU Kids Act; implementation depends on their approval.