Documents: the European Commission plans to propose an EU KIDS Act on Thursday to set a minimum age for accessing social media, video platforms, games, and more

Online platforms will need to implement age verification and default safety settings for underage users.

The European Commission is set to propose an EU KIDS Act on Thursday, which will establish a minimum age for accessing social media, video platforms, online games, and AI chatbots across the European Union. This proposal aims to enhance the safety of minors online by requiring that online products be designed with safety as a core feature. It follows significant pressure from European leaders, including France's Emmanuel Macron, to prioritize child safety on digital platforms. The act will also include provisions for parental controls and will be enforced through a structure similar to the Digital Services Act and the AI Act, involving supervisory fees for companies. The final text will be subject to negotiation with EU governments and lawmakers.

The EU KIDS Act signals a growing regulatory trend in Europe towards comprehensive digital safety, extending beyond content moderation to product design and age restrictions for minors. This move will likely compel social media companies, gaming platforms, and AI providers to fundamentally rethink their user onboarding and safety features for younger demographics to ensure compliance across the bloc.

Companies will face new enforcement mechanisms, including potential supervisory fees, indicating a more robust and centralized approach to digital regulation by the European Commission. The Act's success will depend on its negotiation with member states and its ability to standardize age verification and safety-by-design principles effectively across diverse online services, potentially influencing global standards.