The issues related to the early use of social media by young people are becoming increasingly concerning. Brussels has proposed a legislative framework called the EU Kids Act, aimed at banning access to social media for children under 13 years old. This project also imposes strict parental supervision for those aged 13-14 and grants full autonomy only from the age of 15.
A legal framework designed to protect the youngest
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, justified this project by the accumulation of scientific evidence highlighting the negative impacts of digital platforms on the brain development of young people. According to her statements, “the platforms have played with our children’s mental health.” The aim of this initiative is to reverse the burden of proof currently placed on technology companies. In other words, it would now be up to these companies to demonstrate that their services do not harm young users.
Tiered accounts based on age
The proposed system relies on a tiered account structure adapted to the user’s age. For children under 13 years old, only the possibility of accessing video-sharing services specifically designed for them is permitted. These services would only be accessible through accounts fully managed by a legal guardian. Moreover, screen time for these young people would be limited to one hour per day.
During the age range of 13 to 14 years, parents would have the option to create sub-accounts whose access would be monitored. These sub-accounts would allow the use of platforms deemed appropriate for their age, incorporating restrictions on social contacts while maintaining the limit of one hour of daily use.
Unprecedented obligations imposed on platforms
The proposed law also aims to tackle the mechanisms of social media designed to encourage addiction. It highlights elements such as infinite scrolling of content, automatic notifications, as well as solicitations from strangers. AI-based chatbots, which can lead to emotional dependency, would be disabled by default to protect young users.
In this approach, age verification represents a central aspect. Although its implementation may prove complex, platforms would be required to verify the age during the creation of each account. This verification could rely on indicators such as credit card data, while avoiding the retention of identity documents or biometric data. A European application to facilitate this verification is currently under development.
A legislative path still fraught with obstacles
To implement this legislation, the mechanisms already in place in the Digital Services Act (DSA) would be mobilized. This would allow for potentially heavy sanctions, reaching up to 6% of a company’s global turnover in case of breaches. However, not everything is set in stone. The swift adoption of the text remains uncertain; precedents, such as a similar project in France, have been censored for infringing freedom of expression.
From the technology sector’s perspective, criticisms focus on the feasibility of age verification and the risk of redundancy with the already existing DSA framework. Concerns even come from respected figures, such as Bernhard Rohleder, head of the German association BITKOM, who expresses that implementing additional regulations would be problematic and unnecessary.
If this text is adopted, the European Union, with its 450 million inhabitants, would see the establishment of the largest market ever subjected to age restrictions on social media. This legislative framework could thus lead to major transformations in digital practices and mark a significant step in protecting young users.
For more information on the implications of this legislation, you can consult additional articles on age restriction and on age verification in social media.
