The European Commission has officially adopted the EU KIDS Act, a legislative proposal designed to overhaul minors’ online safety by shifting strict compliance duties directly onto tech platforms instead of parents and authorities. According to the announcement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the proposal establishes mandatory age thresholds, bans addictive interface designs like infinite scrolling, and reverses the burden of proof so that companies must prove their services are safe by design.
Age Tiers and Access Restrictions Under the EU KIDS Act
The core of the EU KIDS Act centers on a tiered age system that strictly regulates who can access digital platforms. According to the legislative proposal, children under the age of 13 are completely barred from accessing social media networks. For users aged 13 to 14, the framework introduces a protected mode where parents can establish mini-accounts linked through a guardian profile, capping daily use at one hour with restricted social contacts. Teens can only open autonomous social media accounts starting at age 15. Meanwhile, children between 3 and 12 years old are limited to dedicated video services managed by parents, complete with mandatory one-hour daily usage caps and device-locking tools.
Banning Dark Patterns and Algorithmic Feeds for Minors
Beyond minimum age thresholds, the legislation targets platform design choices that encourage compulsive engagement. For all minors under 18, the proposal prohibits algorithmic profiling feeds that surface harmful content, endless scrolling mechanisms, overnight push notifications, and reward systems designed to artificially inflate screen time. Furthermore, artificial intelligence chatbots and companions must be disabled by default for minors to prevent emotional dependency. According to the text of the proposal, minor accounts must default to private settings with geolocation, cameras, and microphones disabled automatically.
Shifting the Burden of Proof to Tech Platforms
The legislative framework fundamentally alters regulatory accountability by reversing the burden of proof. While current regulations generally require parents or authorities to demonstrate that a platform causes harm, the EU KIDS Act mandates that companies prove their services are safe by design from inception. Major platforms must submit compliance plans to the European Commission and undergo mandatory audits by independent reviewers. According to the Commission, failure to comply triggers accelerated investigations that must conclude within 90 days, utilizing enforcement mechanisms already established under the Digital Services Act and the AI Act.
Verifying Age Without Compromising User Privacy
To address the challenge of verifying user age without collecting sensitive personal records, the proposal directs app stores and platforms to implement privacy-first verification tools. This includes a designated European verification app designed to confirm user age without storing identity documents or biometric data. For legacy accounts already active on platforms, companies must estimate user ages using indirect indicators such as account creation dates or credit card details. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the necessity of these changes, stating that existing technologies were never engineered with children’s well-being in mind.