17/09/26
By AfterPost
The announcement was made by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday during her annual State of the Union address in Strasbourg, France. It's part of a new law called the *KIDS Act*, which will be formally presented Thursday by von der Leyen and EU Tech Chief Henna Virkkunen.
> No social media under the age of 13. No personal account under the age of 15
The New 3-Tier System
Von der Leyen said Europe will take a "gradual" approach, because "Each age has its own sensitivities. And therefore, each will have its own tailored protection level"
*Tier 1 - Under 13: Total Ban*
No social media, online games, or AI chatbots. The draft legislation seen by AFP confirms the ban goes beyond just Instagram and TikTok to include games and chatbots.
*Tier 2 - Age 13 to Under 15: Mini Accounts Only*
> That means from 13 to under 15, only mini accounts, set up and supervised by parents or guardians, with limited features and time restriction to one hour a day
No personal account. Parents must create and supervise it. Features will be limited, and addictive design like infinite scroll will be banned. Use capped at 1 hour per day.
*Tier 3 - Age 15 to 18: Safe Design by Default*
> And between 15 and 18, safe design will be an obligation for the platforms
Platforms will have to prove their products are safe for minors - a reversal of the burden of proof. Von der Leyen's line: "It is not about our minors accessing social media. It is about when and how we allow social media to access minors."
Why Now? The Case of Olea
Before outlining the plan, von der Leyen paid tribute to a 14-year-old girl in Belgium named Olea, who died by suicide one month ago after being bullied. She quoted Olea's mother:
> I am convinced that without these omnipresent networks, my daughter would still be here
She also cited addictive features, children being drawn into ever more extreme content, and girls having their photos used for AI-generated sexualised images.
> I am aware that many perceive the power of big tech as overwhelming and impossible to roll back. I disagree
> Europe has the power to act. It is us who decide the rules, not Big Tech.
Global Context
This follows Australia, which in December 2025 became the first country in the world to ban social media for under-16s, triggering a wave of similar moves in New Zealand, UK, Spain and France.
But France's top court struck down its own under-15 ban last month for infringing fundamental freedoms, showing how hard enforcement will be.
In the US, Meta agreed last month to pay up to $18 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to settle teen addiction lawsuits.
What Happens Next?
The KIDS Act is a proposal, not yet law. It now needs approval from all 27 EU member states and the European Parliament - a process that could take years. Several members have already pushed ahead with their own bans.
The plan could also spark fresh tensions with US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Europe's tech regulations.
And while the official speech only mentioned social media, the draft includes online games and AI chatbots - which would hit Roblox, Fortnite, http://Character.AI, and others.
The EU is betting that parents are ready. With evidence mounting on mental health impacts, the political window to regulate Big Tech like Big Tobacco has finally opened.
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