Brussels proposes banning social media for children under 13

On Thursday, the European Commission (EU) proposed a KIDS Act to protect minors on the Internet. The text proposes banning access to social networks for children under the age of 13 and setting the age of 15 as the minimum age for having one's own account.

The proposal provides for gradual age access to digital services and requires platforms to ensure that their services are safe for minors from the moment they are designed.

Gradual access by age

The rule provides for a ban on screen access for children under 3 years of age, while children between 3 and 13 years of age will only be able to watch video content for children through a parent or guardian account.

Between the ages of 13 and 15, minors may use "small accounts" under the control of their parents or guardians, with a daily limit of one hour, while from the age of 15 they may open their own account.

The measures shall apply to social networks, video platforms, Internet video games, chatbots and artificial intelligence services, application stores and operating systems, excluding non-profit educational services and those run by public administrations.

Fewer notifications and endless scrolls.

The proposal also lays down obligations to ensure "safety from design itself" for all children under the age of 18, including a continuous decline in content (scroll) and a ban on sending automatic notifications during sleep hours.

The European Commission defines sleep time as a minimum of eight consecutive hours, from 22:00 to 08:00, depending on local time.

Artificial intelligence chatbots used by minors will not be able to keep conversations forever, but will not be able to foster relationships that can lead to emotional dependence on minors.

In addition, the profiles of minors will be private from the outset and will have geolocation, camera and microphone disabled, functions that can only be modified from the age of 15 with the express consent of the minor.

Live broadcasts will also be disabled in children's accounts and cannot be activated without permission.

Restrictions on video games

The KIDS Act also includes new restrictions on Internet video games, specifically that minors may not use variable reward systems, including loot boxes or loot boxes, which the European Commission says are related to compulsive and betting behaviour.

Age check.

Platforms must verify the age of users when creating a new account through the European Union age verification system.

According to the proposal, this system will not retain identity documents or biometric data, so the user's age will not be sufficient to fulfil this obligation.

In the case of existing accounts, platforms may use reasonable indications, such as the date on which the account was created, and the age of all users will not need to be checked again.

The proposal also provides for mandatory audits and sets a time limit of 90 days for the resolution of cases relating to compliance with these obligations.