The 'EU Kids Act' targets addictive apps to protect children online

President Ursula von der Leyen first announced the “EU Kids Act” during her State of the Union address.

The Act, officially presented on September 17, responds to a patchwork of protections across the bloc, like no common minimum age for social media, addictive features like infinite scroll and autoplay, and inconsistent or missing age checks.

The proposal centres on “safety by design,” requiring platforms to prove their products are safe before children use them. It splits childhood into bands: 3- to 13-year-olds get only child-friendly platforms under adult supervision; 13- to 15-year-olds get restricted, feature-limited access with parental controls; and 15- to 18-year-olds have full access under continued safety rules.

National rules, like France’s push to restrict under-15s, would remain, though Paris wants Brussels to harmonise them. Enforcement would follow the Digital Services Act, with Brussels policing major platforms directly and funding this through supervisory fees.

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