The EU KIDS Act would set a minimum age of 15 for independent social media accounts and impose new safety duties on major online services. The European Commission adopted the proposal on October 20, targeting social networks, video platforms, games, app stores and AI chatbots used by minors.

EU KIDS Act creates a three-step age system

The Commission announced the proposal as a single EU framework rather than separate national rules. Children under 13 could not hold social media accounts, while 13- and 14-year-olds could use limited accounts created and controlled by a guardian.

Independent accounts would begin at age 15 on services required to be safe for minors. Existing platforms would have six months after the rules apply to verify users under 15, disable ineligible accounts or establish that account holders meet the threshold.

Self-declared birthdays would not satisfy the proposal. The Commission’s KIDS Act explainer says certified age-verification tools would provide a yes-or-no age signal without revealing identity, using privacy-preserving technology such as zero-knowledge proofs.

Platforms face design changes and 6% fines

The EU KIDS Act would prohibit design features intended to encourage compulsive or excessive use by minors. The list includes endless autoplay, infinite scrolling without breaks, engagement-driven notifications, mass-audience rewards and streak mechanics that punish users for leaving.

Recommendation systems for minors would need to prioritize safety, quality and mental health instead of engagement. Tracking-based personalization would be off by default, and services would need to offer at least one feed without profiling.

The compliance burden would be highest for platforms with at least 45 million monthly EU users. Those companies would submit safety plans before serving children and pay for independent audits, while violations could trigger fines of up to 6% of worldwide annual turnover.

The enforcement structure builds on the Digital Services Act and AI Act. That approach resembles the platform-specific remedies imposed in other technology cases, including the FTC’s conditions for Publicis and LiveRamp, though the EU proposal covers a broader set of services.

AI chatbots and games enter the safety framework

AI companions and chatbots accessible to minors could not simulate human relationships in ways likely to create emotional dependence. Providers would also need pre-launch child-risk testing and continuing monitoring, while earlier conversations could not carry into later sessions by default.

Chatbots embedded in games or platforms could not activate automatically or be pushed toward children. These controls add a child-safety dimension to the broader agent oversight debate reflected in Microsoft’s agentic AI security framework.

Games and app stores would face separate duties. Stores would age-rate every app using a published method, block children from inappropriate purchases and support the EU age-verification application.

The proposal now enters consultation, with feedback open until December 3, 2026. Market impact will depend on the final text, implementation timetable and the cost of rebuilding recommendation, verification and parental-control systems.

The Commission has not presented the proposal as an immediate ban already in force. Investors should track amendments, legislative approval and the eventual compliance date alongside other European technology enforcement, including developments affecting financial-data and AI governance.

Image credit: Sanket Mishra/Unsplash.

Elsy Kanana is a financial and cryptocurrency journalist at FusionMarketNews, covering digital assets, blockchain technology, financial markets, and emerging fintech trends. Her reporting focuses on market movements, regulatory developments, and on-chain analytics, delivering clear, data-driven insights to readers worldwide.