EU Plans Under-15 Social Media, AI, Gaming Restrictions
EU Plans Under-15 Social Media, AI, Gaming Restrictions
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Key Points
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For online gaming, the proposed rules would reportedly require age verification before children are allowed to download games, adding a gate beyond account registration.
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The EU initiative comes as individual member states pursue their own restrictions: France recently submitted a revised plan to limit children’s social-media access after an earlier version of its legislation was struck down by the country’s constitutional authorities.
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The proposal would create more consistent rules across services because many social-media companies currently use a minimum sign-up age of 13, a threshold that would not necessarily apply uniformly to gaming, video-sharing or AI services under existing arrangements.
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The plan has drawn broader political criticism in the United Kingdom context: Elon Musk previously described the UK’s proposed under-16 social-media restrictions as a “censorship law” intended to enable government tracking, illustrating concerns that age controls could affect privacy and civil liberties.
The European Union is preparing sweeping restrictions on what children under 15 can access online. The proposed EU Kids Act would ban independent use of social media, video-sharing platforms, AI chatbots, and online games for this age group, TechSpot reported. The plan aims to shield young people from abuse, exploitation, and addictive digital design.
Children ages 13 and 14 could use some services only through parent-controlled accounts with limited contacts and time restrictions. Younger children, ages 3 to 12, would access only child-friendly services under supervision. The proposal could require age verification, stronger parental controls, and easier reporting of harmful content, with tech companies paying enforcement fees.
Age Tiers Define Who Can Access What
The EU Kids Act creates four age brackets with different rules. Children under 3 get no access. Ages 3 to 12 can only use child-friendly services with parental oversight. Ages 13 to 14 can access certain platforms through parent-controlled accounts with contact and time limits. Only those 15 and older can create independent accounts, RockPaperShotgun reported.
Gaming Gets a New Barrier: Age Verification
Online games face stricter rules than most platforms. The proposal would require age verification before children can even download games. This creates an extra gate beyond the account registration process that most platforms currently use. The rule reflects concerns that games' reward systems can be especially addictive for young players.
Tech Companies Will Fund Enforcement Through New Fees
Technology companies would pay supervisory fees to fund the new ruleset. One report suggests penalties could reach 6% of global annual revenue for violations. These details remain subject to change as the EU Kids Act still needs approval from lawmakers and member states. The enforcement mechanism aims to ensure platforms comply with age restrictions and safety standards.
EU Move Aims to Create Unified Rules Across Europe
Currently, social media companies set a minimum signup age of 13. This threshold does not uniformly apply to gaming, video-sharing, or AI services. The EU Kids Act would standardize protections across all these platforms. Meanwhile, individual nations like France are pursuing their own restrictions. The French government recently revised its plan after courts struck down earlier versions.
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