The European Union is preparing sweeping restrictions on how children access social media, online gaming, and AI chatbots under a forthcoming law known as the Kids Act, according to the Financial Times. The measures would introduce age thresholds and parental oversight requirements aimed at protecting minors from harmful content and addictive design.

What the Kids Act proposes

Under a draft proposal reviewed by the Financial Times, children under 13 would only be permitted to use social platforms with parental supervision. Those aged between 13 and 15 would need parental consent to create personal accounts, which would come with built-in parental controls and restrictions such as time limits.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen underlined the approach in a speech, stating there should be "no social media under the age of 13" and "no personal account under the age of 15." She framed the effort as Europe asserting authority over technology companies, saying it is up to regulators, not large tech firms, to set the rules.

New obligations for platforms and AI services

The rules would extend beyond social networks. Social media companies, online gaming services, and AI chatbot providers would be required to build in safeguards designed to shield children from abuse and addictive behavior. Firms offering AI companions and chatbot services face specific expectations: they would need to avoid designs that foster unhealthy emotional attachments or expose young users to harmful interactions.

The proposal reflects growing concern among regulators worldwide about the effect of always-on platforms and conversational AI tools on younger users, particularly as AI companions become more sophisticated and personal.

Age verification and penalties

To enforce the age thresholds, affected companies would be required to confirm users' ages through an official age verification app. That represents a significant compliance burden and raises questions about how platforms will reliably distinguish minors from adults at scale.

Companies that fail to comply could face substantial financial consequences. According to the draft, penalties could reach up to 6% of a firm's global annual revenue, a level of exposure that would push major platforms to take the requirements seriously.

Why it matters

If enacted, the Kids Act would place the EU among the most assertive jurisdictions in regulating children's access to online services. The combination of hard age limits, parental consent requirements, mandatory age checks, and steep fines signals that the bloc intends to hold platforms accountable for the youngest members of their audiences. The proposal is expected to be published this week, after which it will move through the EU's legislative process, where details could still change.