Brussels, Belgium — September 17, 2026.
DDNEWS
The European Commission has proposed new rules that would prevent children under the age of 13 from having social media accounts, as governments around the world intensify efforts to protect young people from online risks.
The proposal, known as the EU KIDS Act, was adopted on September 17, 2026, and forms part of the European Union’s wider effort to strengthen online safety for children.
Under the proposed rules, children aged 13 and 14 would only be able to use social media through parent-supervised accounts, while independent accounts would be permitted from age 15.
Follow DDNewsOnline on Facebook For More Breaking News
The legislation goes beyond setting an age limit. The Commission says online services used by children, including social media, video-sharing platforms, online games and AI chatbots, would have to introduce stronger safety by design measures.
These measures include restrictions on features that could encourage excessive use, limits on unsolicited contact from strangers, safer default settings and stronger parental controls.
The move comes amid growing international concern over children’s exposure to harmful content, addictive platform features and other online risks. More than 20 countries have taken steps to restrict or limit children’s access to social media, according to an AFP tally.
Subscribe To The Best Team In Conservative, Business, Technology, Lifestyle And Digital News Realtime! support@ddnewsonline.com
Follow And Like Us On Tiktok
Australia has taken one of the most far-reaching approaches. Since December 10, 2025, major social media platforms have been required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from holding accounts on age-restricted services. The Australian rules place responsibility on platforms rather than imposing penalties on children or their parents.
The European proposal follows that broader international movement but adopts a different age threshold. The EU says its approach is intended not only to control when children can access platforms but also to make the digital services themselves safer for young users.
The EU KIDS Act will still have to go through negotiations involving the European Parliament and EU member states before it can become law.
For Breaking News And More Follow Us On Instagram
By Efunbajo Victoria
Reporter