EU to propose ban on social media and AI chatbots for under-15s

The European Commission will unveil an EU Kids Act on Thursday that would bar under-15s from social media, video-sharing platforms, AI chatbots and online games without parental consent, per a leaked draft seen by Euronews and Bloomberg. The proposal introduces age-based tiers and safety-by-design rules, with enforcement modelled on the Digital Services Act and AI Act. It will be previewed in Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union speech on Wednesday.

Bottom line — If adopted, the EU Kids Act would force tech firms to age-verify users and redesign platforms for minors, with penalties tied to worldwide turnover.

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• Under the draft, children under 3 would have no access; ages 3–12 only child-friendly services under full parental control; ages 13–14 introductory accounts with limits; 15+ autonomous accounts, per the Commission document.
• Platforms would need to verify age when opening accounts or downloading games, and provide easy reporting tools and parental controls, the draft says.
• The proposal also covers AI chatbots and companions, which the Commission calls 'virtual tools that can give mental [health support]' and which pose 'specific design risks for minors.'
• A Commission expert panel, including child psychiatrists Jörg Fegert and Maria Melchior, suggested age restrictions 'may be a necessary precautionary step' until risks are better understood, per Cryptopolitan.
• The rules could change before adoption: the Commission must negotiate with EU member states and the European Parliament, and the final text may differ, per Bloomberg.
• A supervisory fee to fund enforcement is also under consideration, which could mean extra costs for tech companies operating in the bloc, per The Hindu.
• The proposal follows a July 2025 Commission paper on age verification, and comes as other jurisdictions, such as the UK, introduce similar child-safety measures, per Cryptopolitan.

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