EU child protection rules may require state ID for social media
The gist
The European Commission adopted the EU KIDS Act, banning social media for under-13s.
If passed, it would be the world's largest social media access restriction.
How it unfolded
- May 2026Von der Leyen proposed a social media "delay" for children in Europe, saying "the discussion about a minimum age for social media can no longer be ignored."
- Jul 13, 2026The Commission's Special Panel on child safety online recommended a developmental, age-tiered framework: avoid screens for under-3s, supervised age-appropriate use for ages 3-12, and "evolving autonomous use" with mandatory safety features for ages 13-18.
- Sep 14, 2026Horizon scan reports the European Commission is expected to outline its proposal on minors' access to social media this week.