The European Union is preparing a major new initiative aimed at strengthening online safety for children, with proposed restrictions on social media, video-sharing platforms, artificial intelligence chatbots and online games for users under the age of 15. The plan is expected to form part of the proposed EU Kids Act, which is being developed to create stronger and more consistent protections for minors across the European Union.
The proposal comes amid growing concerns about the impact of digital platforms on children and teenagers. European authorities have highlighted risks including exposure to harmful or age-inappropriate content, cyberbullying, unwanted contact, addictive design features and other forms of online exploitation. The EU has already introduced rules requiring online platforms to take appropriate measures to protect minors, but the new initiative could introduce more specific age-based restrictions.
Under the reported proposal, children below certain age groups would face different levels of access to online services. Children under three would have no access to the covered services, while children between three and 12 could use child-friendly services with parental controls. Children aged 13 and 14 could potentially access certain services through introductory accounts subject to strict parental supervision. The proposed minimum age for teenagers to operate an independent account would be 15.
The plan would cover several categories of digital services. These include major social media platforms, video-sharing services, AI chatbot services and online games. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube could be affected by the proposed framework, while AI services such as ChatGPT are also among the types of services mentioned in reports about the proposal. However, the precise scope and final wording could change during the legislative process.
One of the important elements of the proposal is age verification. The EU has already been working on privacy-conscious age verification technologies, with the European Commission adopting a recommendation in April 2026 to establish a common framework for age verification across member states. The objective is to enable online services to establish a user's age without unnecessarily exposing personal information.
The European Commission's existing approach also recognises that children can face different types of risks depending on how digital services are designed. Its online safety framework calls for measures such as stronger privacy settings for minors, restrictions on unknown accounts contacting children, safer recommendation systems, controls on features that encourage excessive use, and safeguards for AI chatbots integrated into online platforms.
The proposed EU Kids Act would also place additional responsibilities on technology companies. Reports indicate that platforms could be required to provide stronger parental controls, reporting mechanisms and safeguards against harmful or addictive content. Companies could also be required to contribute to supervision costs through a regulatory fee. The objective is to make platforms more accountable for the safety of young users rather than placing the entire responsibility on parents and children.
Online gaming is another area receiving attention. European institutions have raised concerns about features such as loot boxes, in-game currencies, microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanisms that can encourage excessive spending or prolonged engagement among younger users. The EU has also been examining the wider effects of manipulative digital design and commercial practices on children.
The issue of AI chatbots has become increasingly important as children and teenagers gain easier access to conversational artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional websites, AI chatbots can provide personalised responses and sustained conversations. European policymakers are therefore examining additional safeguards for younger users, particularly where AI systems may expose children to inappropriate material or create other safety and wellbeing risks.
European authorities have also pointed to the amount of time children spend in digital environments. The Council of the European Union says children aged between nine and 15 spend an average of around three hours per day on screens and social media. It has identified issues including harmful content, cyberbullying, cybersexual abuse, manipulative design and unhealthy commercial practices as areas requiring stronger protection.
However, the proposed restrictions should not currently be described as an active EU-wide ban. The reported measures are part of a legislative proposal that still has to be formally presented, negotiated and considered by EU member states and the European Parliament. The final rules, age thresholds, exemptions and enforcement mechanisms could therefore change before any legislation takes effect.
The proposal is part of a broader European effort to establish safer digital environments for children while maintaining access to useful online services. The EU has already introduced digital safety requirements for platforms and is developing common age verification tools. The proposed Kids Act could represent another significant step by introducing clearer age-based access rules for social media, AI services, video platforms and online games.
For parents and technology companies, the proposal could lead to greater emphasis on age verification, parental supervision and child-friendly account settings. For platforms, it could mean additional compliance responsibilities and stronger requirements for preventing harmful interactions. For children and teenagers, the changes could significantly affect how they access popular digital services if the proposal eventually becomes law.
At this stage, the key point is that the EU is moving toward stronger online protections for minors, but the reported under-15 restrictions are not yet an implemented law. Further negotiations and the final legislative text will determine how the rules are applied across European countries.