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European Commission proposes KIDS Act to regulate social media for minors
The European Commission has proposed the KIDS Act, a regulatory framework designed to enhance digital protection for minors across the European Union. The proposal seeks to prohibit social media access for children under 13 and implement restricted 'mini-accounts' for those aged 13 to 15. These younger accounts would feature limited functionalities and potential daily usage limits, such as one hour per day, under parental supervision.
Beyond age restrictions, the legislation emphasizes 'safety by design' principles. This requires digital platforms, including social networks, online gaming, and video-sharing services, to incorporate protections against addictive features, 'doomscrolling', and exposure to harmful content. The regulation also targets algorithmic profiling and targeted advertising directed at minors.
In response to these regulatory shifts, Meta has introduced new parental controls for WhatsApp. These optional features allow guardians to manage privacy settings, such as profile visibility and group permissions, using a secure PIN. While parents can receive notifications regarding group activity, the service maintains end-to-end encryption, ensuring that the content of private messages and calls remains inaccessible to guardians.
Public sentiment in the EU shows strong support for increased regulation, with 91% of citizens favoring additional measures for children's social media use. However, only 36% support a total age-based ban. Non-compliant companies under the proposed EU framework could face significant penalties, including fines of up to 6 percent of their global turnover.
Entities
Eurobarometer · European Commission · European Union · Instagram · Jeanne-Marie Quashie · KIDS Act · Meta · Terre des Hommes Netherlands · TikTok · Ursula von der Leyen · WhatsApp
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Digital platforms will be required to implement age verification mechanisms approved by the Commission. superbiz.se.pl · www.thessaliatv.gr · www.trikalanews.gr
- [● 6 SOURCES] Users aged 13 to 15 would face limited profiles and additional restrictions, such as a potential one-hour daily limit. www.semprenews.it · superbiz.se.pl · nationalcybersecurity.com · afjv.com · gr.euronews.com · +1 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Jeanne-Marie Quashie of Terre des Hommes Netherlands noted that the proposed age limit aligns with existing GDPR standards. es.euronews.com · fr.euronews.com · gr.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · +1 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] A Eurobarometer survey found that 91% of EU citizens support additional regulations for children's social media use. trn.mk · es.euronews.com · fr.euronews.com · gr.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · +2 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Non-compliant companies could face fines of up to 6 percent of their global turnover. superbiz.se.pl
- [● 11 SOURCES] The regulation aims to combat digital addiction, 'doomscrolling', and exposure to harmful content. trn.mk · www.semprenews.it · superbiz.se.pl · es.euronews.com · fr.euronews.com · +6 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Only 36% of EU citizens support a total ban on social media for children under a specific age. trn.mk · es.euronews.com · fr.euronews.com · gr.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · +2 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The European Commission has proposed the KIDS Act to prohibit social media access for children under 13. www.semprenews.it · superbiz.se.pl · nationalcybersecurity.com · afjv.com · gr.euronews.com · +1 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The proposal includes 'safety by design' requirements for platforms used by minors. www.semprenews.it · afjv.com