On 17 September 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented a draft law known as the EU KIDS Act. It sets out significant restrictions on social media for children. The proposal still has to be debated with the member states and the European Parliament, but the direction is clear, and it affects more than just the big platforms.
What the proposal contains
Under 13
A ban on social media. Children may only use services designed specifically for them, through a parent's account and with a limit of about one hour a day.
13 to 15
"Mini accounts" linked to a parent's account, with parental controls and restricted contacts.
Over 15
Their own account, but with additional safety features set by the platform.
Design changes for everyone under 18
- no infinite feeds;
- no targeted ads;
- no notifications at night;
- no unsolicited contact from strangers;
- no mechanics such as loot boxes and streak counters;
- private accounts by default, with location, camera and microphone switched off;
- AI chatbots switched off by default and not allowed to imitate human relationships.
How age will be verified
The plan is for certified tools that confirm a user is above a certain age using an ID document, a national electronic identity or a banking service, without sharing their name or date of birth. For existing accounts, platforms will have up to six months after the rules start to apply. Some users have raised concerns about personal data, especially when verification is carried out by private companies.
What it means for websites and apps
The law targets social media, but the principle of "safety by design" will spread further. Von der Leyen also mentioned a broader digital fairness act. If your website has a community, comments or user accounts, or it is aimed at a young audience, it makes sense to start now by:
- collecting only the data you need;
- avoiding dark patterns that push people to spend more time or money than they intended;
- making accounts private by default;
- documenting how you process minors' data.
For a legal assessment of your specific case, consult a lawyer. On the technical side, we can help as part of our web development and maintenance services. Related: Meta's USD 18 billion settlement.
Topic source: Digitalk: The EU has presented its draft law banning social media for children (in Bulgarian). This article is an independent analysis by Penkov Studio.
