EU KIDS Act Expands Age Assurance Across Digital Services

Author: admin | 22 Sep 2026

The European Commission has proposed the EU KIDS Act, a wide-ranging framework that would expand age assurance requirements across social media, app stores, video-sharing platforms, online games, AI companions, and chatbots used by minors.

Under the proposal, children under 13 would not be allowed to access social media services. The age to use social media would be either 13 or 14, with limited “mini accounts” for these users under the supervision of a parent or guardian, and social media accounts would be allowed for those 15 and older. Platforms would also need to verify age at account creation and raise barriers to entry for individuals under 18.

The proposal assumes liability on digital platforms for establishing adequate security measures. This includes introducing private-by-default profiles for minors and restricting unsolicited contact, as well as limiting addictive design features and tightening controls over AI companions and chatbots.

Age checks would also not be limited to a single platform. Age verification would be expected to extend beyond apps to app stores, creating a broader verification layer across digital services. This may make age assurance a standard infrastructure requirement, rather than something reserved for high-risk services.

One possible solution it mentions is its EU age verification system, which protects privacy. The system is designed to determine whether a user is of an appropriate age without disclosing their age or unnecessary personal information. The EU is also progressing towards the European Digital Identity Wallets as an extended-term solution for distributing verified age and other attributes over the internet.

For age assurance providers, the proposal signals a shift from isolated age gates toward interoperable, privacy-conscious verification across entire digital ecosystems. The KIDS Act still requires negotiation and approval by the European Parliament and Council before becoming law.

Global Regulations on Age Verification for Children

Similar moves are already visible globally. Australia introduced social media restrictions requiring platforms to prevent under-16s from holding accounts from December 2025. In the UK, Ofcom’s Online Safety Act regime requires highly effective age assurance for services exposing children to harmful content, including pornography, reinforcing the broader regulatory shift worldwide.