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yesterday

EU Launches Age-Verification Pilot and Grants States Power to Limit Minors’ Social Media

Countries can now set age thresholds or full bans on minors’ social media use under the DSA, with platforms required to curb addictive design before the new age-check app is rolled out.

Facebook, TikTok apps are seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Overview

  • The European Commission’s new Digital Services Act guidelines let member states impose national age limits or complete social media bans for underage users.
  • Technical specifications for an EU-wide age verification app based on the upcoming Digital Identity Wallet have been published to ensure privacy-preserving checks.
  • France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Greece are customizing and piloting the prototype to verify users are over 18 without revealing personal data.
  • Major platforms such as Meta, Google and TikTok must disable addictive features like streaks and read receipts and enforce privacy-by-default settings.
  • Officials will refine the verification solution with member states and industry stakeholders before expanding the pilot ahead of a planned EU rollout in 2026.