European Commission proposes EU Kids Act to regulate minor social media access

EU Kids Act social media regulation child online safety European Commission digital platforms

The European Commission has proposed the EU Kids Act, a regulatory framework designed to harmonize child protection on digital platforms across the European Union. The proposal aims to prevent market fragmentation by establishing uniform rules rather than allowing individual member states to implement varying age thresholds and obligations.

Key provisions of the proposal include a minimum age of 15 for independent social media accounts. Children under 13 would be prohibited from having accounts, while those aged 13 to 15 could use limited ‘mini-accounts’ created and supervised by parents, with usage restricted to a maximum of one hour per day. The regulation emphasizes ‘safety by design,’ requiring platforms to eliminate addictive features such as infinite scrolling, nighttime notifications, and unsolicited messages from strangers.

In response to the perceived slow pace of EU negotiations, several countries are pursuing independent national legislation. Denmark, Greece, and Italy have indicated intentions to move forward with domestic laws to address urgent mental health risks for minors. Meanwhile, the National Audiovisual Council (CNA) in Romania has invited citizens, parents, and educators to participate in a public consultation regarding the proposal, which remains open until December 3, 2026.

Entities

Anghel Saligny program · EU Kids Act · European Commission · European Parliament · National Audiovisual Council · Romania · Ursula von der Leyen

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Children aged 13 to 15 may use parental-supervised mini-accounts for up to one hour daily. news24.ro · ziarulimpact.ro · radiodeea.ro
[● 3 SOURCES] The European Commission proposed the EU Kids Act to harmonize online minor protection. news24.ro · pcrevenge.org · www.upday.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The proposal sets a minimum age of 15 for independent social media accounts. news24.ro · ziarulimpact.ro · radiodeea.ro
[● 2 SOURCES] The Romanian CNA is collecting public opinions on the EU Kids Act until December 3, 2026. ziarulimpact.ro · radiodeea.ro
[○ 1 SOURCE] Denmark is proceeding with national legislation due to the urgency of mental health issues. www.upday.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Platforms must implement ‘safety by design’ to remove addictive features like infinite scrolling. ziarulimpact.ro · radiodeea.ro
[○ 1 SOURCE] Greece has approved a bill to ban social media access for those under 15. www.upday.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The European Commission decided to delay national legislative projects by 12 months to avoid overlap. pcrevenge.org