EU plans restrictions on social media and AI chatbots for under-15s
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Boy lying in bed staring intently at a glowing smartphone screen. Filie photo.
BRUSSELS — September 15, 2026
The European Union is preparing a proposal that would restrict children under 15 from using social media, video-sharing platforms, AI chatbots and online gaming services, according to a European Commission document. The plan would be one of the EU's broadest efforts to protect children from potential risks linked to digital services.
The proposal is part of the planned EU Kids Act, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen are expected to present this week. Von der Leyen may outline some elements of the plan in her State of the Union address before the full proposal is presented.
The Commission document says EU policy should allow children to benefit from digital technology while protecting them from abuse and exploitation. It proposes different levels of access based on age, with companies facing obligations that would vary according to the service they provide and the age of the user.
Under the proposal, children aged 15 and older would be able to create their own accounts. Those aged 13 and 14 could use social media and video-sharing services through introductory accounts opened by parents, with parental controls, limited contacts and strict time limits.
Children between three and 12 would only be able to use child-friendly services under full parental control and subject to stronger safety requirements. Children under three would not be allowed to access the covered services.
The proposal would also place new responsibilities on technology companies. Firms would have to help prevent addictive designs and harmful content feeds, while providing easier ways for children to report harmful material and giving parents effective tools to control their children's use of the services.
Social media and video-sharing companies would be required to verify users' ages when new accounts are created. Online gaming platforms would also have to verify a child's age before allowing games to be downloaded.
The plan would cover major digital services that have faced growing scrutiny over their effects on children, including social media platforms, video-sharing services, AI chatbots and online games. Concerns have increased internationally over potential effects on children's safety and well-being.
Companies would also be required to pay a supervisory fee to help finance regulatory monitoring and enforcement of the new rules.
The proposal is not yet law, and its details could change before it is formally presented. After the European Commission puts forward the draft, EU member states and the European Parliament will need to negotiate and approve the legislation.
That process could take several months, meaning the proposed age restrictions will not take effect immediately. The final rules will depend on the outcome of those negotiations.
Many social media companies already set a minimum sign-up age of 13 and say they have measures in place to protect younger users. The EU proposal would go further by establishing broader age-based requirements and additional obligations for companies operating digital services used by children
