EU Kids Act proposal would restrict social media, AI chatbots and online games for under-15s

# What the EU Kids Act would do

Act to change how children access online platforms. The draft focuses on social media but also covers video-sharing services, AI companions and chatbots, and online video games. Its rules would create a tiered account system for under-15s, require technical privacy defaults, and impose stronger age assurance and app-store obligations.

# Tiered account system and age limits

# Privacy and default settings

Under the draft law, minors' profiles must be private by default. Access to microphones and cameras would be disabled by default for minors, as would geolocation data. That has direct implications for mobile games and apps that use location or voice features. The proposal notes games like Pokémon Go may be affected unless young users can opt back in under guardian supervision.

# AI companions and emotional safeguards

# Age assurance and app-store responsibilities

Online services and app stores would need to implement age assurance tools, including the EU age verification app or equivalent methods. For existing accounts, the draft allows "reasonable proxies," such as account creation date or credit card details, as alternative verification methods. App stores would also be required to age-rate every app and game using a published methodology, increasing compliance and transparency requirements for developers and distributors.

# Commission rationale and public concern

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen described children's average daily screen time and cited broad public support for stronger protections. The draft highlights risks the Commission connects to current platform design: attention-capturing algorithms, business models that monetise engagement, and related harms such as sleep disruption and mental-health concerns.

# Who and what would be affected

Affected services include mainstream social media platforms, video-sharing services aimed at children, AI chatbots and companions that interact with minors, and online video games with social or location features. Educational tools are reported to be excluded. The rules would affect platform operators, app stores, game developers that rely on social features or location services, and providers of AI companions.

# Next steps

# Practical implications for parents and developers

Parents may see stricter default protections and clearer account types for children. Developers and platform operators should expect to publish age-rating methodologies, implement age-assurance tools, and reassess default settings for camera, microphone and location access for accounts identified as belonging to minors.