Story perspectives

EU Kids Act sets social-media age limits for minors

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 10:03 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The European Commission adopted the EU Kids Act on 17 September 2026, setting age limits for social-media use.
Platforms must apply safe-design rules for users 15-17, who may open independent accounts.
Very large platforms must submit safety-by-design compliance plans to auditors before child-focused features launch.
The Act bans addictive design elements and disables AI companions for minors, fines up to 6 % turnover and 90-day investigations.

Summary

Trump Considers Sanctions

U.S. President Donald Trump considered sanctions on the EU for applying the Digital Services Act to U.S. tech firms.
France’s Constitutional Council blocked a ban on under-15 social-media use, citing possible freedom-of-expression violations.
BITKOM CEO Bernhard Rohleder warned that age-verification tools are technically challenging and duplicate existing EU rules.
An Australian study found its December 2025 teen social-media ban had minimal impact, questioning the EU’s approach.

History

Historical Context

Following the United Nations’ adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November 1989 (effective 2 September 1990) and its ratification by 196 nations, the European Union introduced the 2026 EU Kids Act, requiring the European Commission and platforms such as TikTok to verify users’ ages. The measure extends the convention’s long-standing duty to shield children from harmful digital content.

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Story summary

The European Commission adopted the EU Kids Act on 17 September 2026, setting age limits for social-media use.
Platforms must apply safe-design rules for users 15-17, who may open independent accounts.
Very large platforms must submit safety-by-design compliance plans to auditors before child-focused features launch.
The Act bans addictive design elements and disables AI companions for minors, fines up to 6 % turnover and 90-day investigations.

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