What is happening
The European Commission's 17 September Kids Act proposal would bar under-13s from social media, allow parent-managed accounts with a one-hour daily limit from 13 to under 15, and allow independent accounts from 15. These are proposed rules, subject to negotiations in the European Parliament and Council. [1]
The proposal also addresses privacy defaults, unwanted contact, addictive features and age checks across services used by minors. On 30 September, Macron described preparing a revised national text alongside the European initiative. These are separate legislative paths; a development in one should not be presented as an EU-wide rule already in force. [1][2]
Why it matters
Families would face practical decisions about accounts and consent, while platforms would need workable age checks and safer products. The debate is about both protecting children and limiting the personal data collected to prove their age.
What to watch next
- The final age thresholds and parental-consent rules agreed by legislators.
- How age verification protects privacy in practice.
- Adoption and implementation dates for each separate national or EU measure.
Sources behind this brief
Written by GreenMango from the linked material. Statements and disputed claims are attributed to their sources.
- EU Kids Act proposal explained
European Commission · Directorate-General for Communication ·
© European Union. Summarised and contextualised by GreenMango. CC BY 4.0
- Macron on the national revision and European initiative
Élysée · Site de la Présidence de la République ·