Children under 13 face a total prohibition on social media platforms under a new regulatory framework unveiled by the European Commission. The Kids Act limits access for 13 to 15 year olds to supervised accounts with a one hour daily usage cap and restricted contact with strangers. Users 15 and older may sign up independently, provided platforms remove addictive features and traps for everyone under 18.

The proposal includes AI assistants and online games, mandating a safety by design approach for all minors. EU certified tools will verify ages using zero knowledge proof, confirming eligibility without sharing identity data with companies. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated platforms must now prove their services are safe, reversing the previous burden of proof for child safety.