EU Proposes Kids Act Banning Social Media Accounts for Under-13s

The EU Kids Act has been unveiled by the European Commission, aiming to ban social media accounts for children under 13 and mandate parental oversight for those aged 13 and 14, restricting them to just one hour of daily use on 'mini accounts.' Individuals aged 15 and above would be permitted to create their own accounts. This initiative was announced by President Ursula von der Leyen during her state of the union speech in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The legislation targets platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, obliging them to prioritize child safety and adhere to regulations. Companies that fail to comply may incur fines of up to 6% of their global revenue. This proposal is an extension of the Digital Services Act and AI Act and will require legislative approval, a process that could extend over several years.