Overview
- The Commission announced the staged plan on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, that would bar children under 13 from having personal social‑media accounts, allow parent‑set limited 'mini' accounts for 13‑ and 14‑year‑olds, and permit independent accounts from 15 if platforms can show their design is safe.
- The draft shifts the legal burden onto platforms to demonstrate 'safety by design,' asking companies to remove addictive features such as endless scroll and to prevent misuse of images for AI before older teens may hold independent accounts.
- Age checks would use dataminimal tools like the EUDI‑Wallet digital ID or a Commission age‑attestation app, but security researchers said prototypes were vulnerable and critics warned the tools risk exposing personal data or being bypassed with VPNs or fake birthdates.
- Member states have varied positions and some are preparing interim national measures, with France pushing a higher 15‑year floor and Germany planning transition rules while EU Parliament and Council begin lengthy negotiations.
- The move builds on existing Digital Services Act enforcement that found poor age verification on big platforms and targets a practical gap: most services list 13 as the minimum age but currently accept self‑reported birthdays without reliable checks.