EU Plans Under-15 Curbs on Social Media and AI Chatbots
The European Commission is preparing an EU Kids Act aimed at creating stronger safeguards for minors across digital services. The proposed framework would cover social media, video platforms and AI chatbots used by children under 15, potentially bringing services including Facebook and ChatGPT under a common regime. The initiative reflects growing concern that existing online-safety rules do not adequately address addictive design, algorithmic recommendations and risks arising from generative AI interactions.
As of Sept. 16, 2026, the draft would require platforms to strengthen age-verification systems and parental controls while barring algorithms designed to encourage compulsive use. The proposal remains at the drafting and negotiation stage, meaning its scope and enforcement mechanisms could still change. No final implementation date has been set, and the measure would need to clear the EU legislative process before taking effect, a step expected to require at least several more months.
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The history behind this eventEU Plans Minimum Age for Social Media Use to Protect Children
As social media, AI companions and other high-risk services become more widespread, children's online safety and privacy have emerged as a global regulatory priority. EU member states have historically imposed differing age limits on young people's access to online services, weakening enforcement and safeguards. To protect young people from addiction and harmful content that could damage their mental and physical health, the EU is working to establish a unified regulatory framework. The rules would force global technology giants to fundamentally redesign their product access and age-verification mechanisms.
A European Commission panel on children's online safety recently recommended a uniform minimum age of 13 for access to high-risk digital services. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen subsequently backed the proposal, with concrete policy measures expected in autumn 2026. The plan would place primary legal responsibility on social media platforms, requiring them to proactively demonstrate that their services do not harm minors or face heavy penalties.
UK Announces Under-16 Social Media Ban, Curbs on AI Chatbots
The UK government says algorithmic recommendations, livestreaming and direct messages from strangers are increasing children's exposure to harmful content and the risk of addiction. It is therefore adopting an “Australia Plus” model that goes further than Australia's approach. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology received more than 116,000 submissions during a consultation from March to May, with 90% of parents supporting the ban. Opponents, however, worry that teenagers will migrate to unregulated platforms.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on June 15, 2026, that people under 16 are expected to be barred from major social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube beginning in spring 2027. AI romantic or sexual companion chatbots will be restricted to users aged 18 and older. The government further announced on July 15 that accounts belonging to 16- and 17-year-olds will default to disabling notifications from midnight to 6 a.m., turning off autoplay and removing personalized feeds, although users may change those settings themselves.
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