The European Commission has launched a consultation on the proposed EU KIDS Act, which would establish a common EU framework to make digital services safer and more age-appropriate for children.
Through the consultation, the European Commission aims to gather diverse perspectives from children, parents, guardians, teachers, educators and the online platforms that would be regulated by the Act.
Key measures of the EU KIDS Act
The EU KIDS Act would establish a common EU framework to protect children online. The proposal includes the following key measures:
- A minimum age of 13 for accessing social media platforms
- A minimum age of 15 for having an independent social media account, with parent-managed accounts proposed for children aged 13 and 14
- Safety-by-design requirements for digital services
- Privacy-preserving age-assurance methods
- Enforcement measures to ensure compliance
The safety-by-design requirements would address potentially addictive features, such as infinite scroll and autoplay. The scope of the proposal extends beyond social media to include video-sharing platforms, other digital services, and AI systems that children frequently use.
Alignment with Dutch position
This proposal aligns with the Netherlands’ position on a European minimum age for social media. In September, the Dutch government, together with Spain, proposed a European framework to assess independently whether platforms are safe for children. Under this approach, platforms that demonstrate they meet high safety standards could be exempt from certain age restrictions. The Dutch government has also called for privacy-preserving age verification and EU-wide rules with limited scope for national deviations. The EU KIDS Act supports this ambition by proposing a common EU-level age framework and requiring service providers to demonstrate that their services are age-appropriate and safe by design.
Background and resources
The consultation builds on a comprehensive evidence base, including the report from the Special Panel on Child Online Safety, dedicated stakeholder consultations, and the 2026 Children’s Online Experiences Research. For further clarification on the details of the Act, view the EU KIDS Act explained on the European Commission’s website.
How to participate
Interested parties are invited to submit their feedback by 26 November 2026.
The European Commission will summarise all responses and present them to the European Parliament and the Council to inform the legislative debate. If adopted, the proposal will apply throughout the EU.
