EU plans to limit social media, online games for under-15s

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 16, 2026

The European Union plans to introduce new rules restricting access to social media, video-sharing, AI chatbots, and online gaming for children under 15, including tiered account permissions and stricter age verification requirements. This proposal aims to create more uniform protections across member states and will undergo legislative review before becoming law, addressing growing concerns about children's safety on digital platforms.

The European Union is set to introduce one of the most comprehensive regulatory frameworks aimed at protecting children from potential harms associated with digital platforms. According to a European Commission document obtained by Reuters, the new proposal seeks to restrict access for children under the age of 15 to social media, video-sharing services, AI chatbots, and online gaming.

The initiative, part of an overarching EU Kids Act, is scheduled to be presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen on September 17, with some details possibly previewed by von der Leyen during her State of the Union address on September 16.

The draft legislation outlines a tiered approach to online access by age. Children aged 15 and older would be permitted to create their own accounts on these digital platforms. Those aged 13 to 14 could establish supervised “introductory accounts” with parental approval, restricted contacts, and set time limits. For younger children between three and 12 years old, access would be strictly limited to child-friendly services under full parental control. The document specifies that children under the age of three would have no access to these services.

Under the proposed rules, companies providing such services would face new obligations, including avoiding designs that encourage addictive behavior or harmful content exposure. Platforms would also be required to implement age verification processes either at account creation or before content download in the case of gaming services. Additional tools would have to be supplied to facilitate reporting harmful content and to empower parental controls.

To support regulatory enforcement, the draft proposal suggests that companies pay supervisory fees to fund oversight authorities. The exact provisions of the proposal may still be subject to adjustments before formal introduction.

This legislative effort responds to growing global concerns regarding the impact of widely used platforms—including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, Google’s YouTube, and AI services like ChatGPT—on children's wellbeing and safety. While tech companies typically set minimum age limits of 13 for account registration and claim to employ various safety measures, the EU’s plan aims to establish more rigorous and harmonized standards across member states.

Following its presentation, the draft will undergo review and negotiation with EU member countries and the European Parliament before it can become law. The proposed regulation represents a significant step in the EU’s broader strategy to ensure that digital environments are safer and more age-appropriate for younger users.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.