The EU's Proposed Social Media Limits for Under-16s, Explained

The European Union has proposed limits on social media use for children under 16 across its member states in a draft law called the EU Kids Act. BBC

The proposal has three tiers. Children under 13 would be barred from social media platforms. Young teens aged 13 to 15 would be limited to one hour a day and could only use so-called mini accounts — linked accounts set up through a parent or guardian's own account. Only those aged 15 and older could open their own accounts.

The European Commission says the goal is to support wellbeing and improve online safety. It says companies would have to show their platforms are "safe by design" — built from the start to protect children — which would place the burden of proof on providers rather than requiring users or regulators to show harm afterward.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the plan would "put parents back in the driving seat." She said the EU Kids Act would give parents "the tools to help their children navigate a safer world."

The timetable was announced in advance. The Commission's State of the Union 2026 address on 16 September said the EU Kids Act would be proposed the next day. European Commission That speech promised a gradual and differentiated approach, wording that matches the age bands and different access rules detailed in the 17 September announcement.

Earlier reporting points to a scope wider than social media. The limits were described as also covering AI chatbots and video-sharing platforms, as well as social media. Reuters Online games were also described as included. AP The rules were described as applying in all 27 EU countries. Reuters

France and Spain have announced their own separate plans to restrict social media for children. The threshold in those national discussions is 15.

The broader context here is enforcement across borders as much as technology. A single age cutoff and daily limit would need consistent age checks, parental links, and ways for regulators to audit compliance in 27 different national systems, covering feeds, chatbots, and games. Parental mini accounts would centralize consent, but also verification and disputes.

Looking at what this means for negotiation, a Commission proposal creates no obligations by itself. It opens bargaining over definitions, scope, timelines, and compliance standards, including what counts as safe by design and how a one-hour limit is tracked across devices and accounts. France and Spain add momentum for Brussels and offer fallback paths if the EU text stalls or is weakened.

In my view, the less visible provisions will matter most. How safety by design is proven, how mini accounts are technically defined, and how chatbots, video-sharing, and games are treated will decide whether the age bands act as simple access controls or as broader design rules for recommendation systems, default settings, and data flows. Enforcement will decide credibility.