The latest social media ban for kids? All 27 countries in the European Union.
Announced Thursday after plans revealed in July, the proposed EU KIDS Act will “enhance the online safety of children,” banning kids in the EU under 15 from setting up their own accounts on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
Children under 15 will be allowed “mini” social media accounts set up by a parent or guardian (with parental controls always on), but will be limited to a maximum of one hour per day. Kids under 13, however, won’t be allowed social media accounts at all. The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, described these measures as intended to “delay” kids’ use of these platforms.
The bill won’t just cover social media, however, with video-sharing platforms, online gaming, AI chatbots or companions, and even app stores targeted by the law. If passed, all 27 member states of the EU will be included in the bill, from Austria to Sweden, with the EU stating, “The internet does not stop at borders. Countries are adopting their own age limits and rules, which would mean a patchwork of laws: a child protected in one country and not in the next.”
Like Australia’s precedent-setting social media ban and subsequent moves in other countries, the EU KIDS Act will also require tech companies to “show that their services are age-appropriate and safe by design,” enforcing strict rules that will limit “addictive design features” like infinite scrolling and banning minors from livestreaming.
Online platforms with 45 million or more actively monthly users in the EU will need to submit a compliance plan to the Commission. Fines for companies who don’t comply could be as much as six percent of worldwide annual revenue.
Importantly, age verification will be required for online platforms via the EU age verification app or third-party platforms. Online age verification laws have become a worldwide government trend alongside these online safety acts, while coming under criticism for efficiency and their impact on digital privacy and free speech.
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Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said in a press statement, “Today, our children are engaging with the most sophisticated technologies ever created. Technology that was never created with their wellbeing in mind. Our KIDS Act is reversing the burden of proof — it is for platforms to show they are safe by design. And we put parents back in the driving seat, giving them the tools to help their children navigate a safer online world.”
The EU KIDS Act will work within the framework of the EU’s existing Digital Services Act and AI Act, the former of which has already done a number on big tech companies like Meta and Google. The proposed bill was informed by a panel of over 60 experts, who delivered a report in July 2026 detailing the need for greater protections for children online, not just on social media platforms but online gaming, messaging apps, and AI tools.
Children under 16 continue to find themselves at the centre of political conversations around social media, with countries including Australia, the UK, Canada, Brazil, New Zealand, and more aiming to reduce Big Tech companies’ hold on young people’s attention. For more, read Mashable’s guide to the countries where social media is banned for kids.
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