# EU KIDS Act bans social media for under-13s

> EU bans social media for under-13s with new child safety rules.
- Title: EU KIDS Act bans social media for under-13s · Malay Mail
- Summary: EU bans social media for under-13s with new child safety rules. The EU proposed the KIDS Act to restrict social media access for minors under 13, requiring…
- Keywords: kids act, social media, age limits, parental controls, ai assistants, endless scrolling, midnight pings, ai friendships, news, world, KIDS, Act
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/tech-gadgets/2026/09/18/eu-unveils-kids-act-banning-endless-scrolling-midnight-pings-and-ai-friendships-in-online-safety-push/235645
- Published: 2026-09-18T21:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: eu, kids act, social media, age limits, parental controls, ai assistants, endless scrolling, midnight pings, ai friendships, news, world
## EU proposes KIDS Act
The EU plans strict age limits for children accessing social media, games and AI assistants.

> The EU laid out plans Thursday for strict age limits for children to access social media, games and AI assistants, and on forcing companies to make platforms safe before minors use them.
## Bans for under-13s
Children under 13 cannot access social media without parental supervision.

> The legal proposal comes a day after European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen announced the 27-country bloc’s intention to ban children under 13 from social media, and permit only limited, supervised access until the age of 15.
## Parental controls for 13-14-year-olds
13- and 14-year-olds use parent-managed accounts with screen time limits.

> Children aged 15 and over will be able to set up social media accounts, while 13- and 14-year-olds can have "mini accounts" that they can access through a parent or guardian’s account, according to the proposal.
## Bans addictive features
Endless scrolling and midnight pings are banned for minors.

> The rules for platforms would include a ban on addictive features, so-called endless scrolling, and push notifications while children sleep, as the bloc steps up efforts to protect minors online.
## AI chatbots restricted
AI chatbots cannot create emotional dependency on children.

> The EU also said AI chatbots must not "simulate interpersonal relationships in ways that create emotional dependency", after a spate of suicides worldwide following children’s interaction with such assistants.
## Private profiles by default
Children’s profiles are private with location and camera off.

> Children’s profiles must be private by default with their location, camera and microphone turned off, and it should be easy for minors to block or mute users.
## Platforms submit compliance plans
Platforms must submit safety plans to EU auditors.

> Platforms will have to submit a "compliance plan" to the commission and to an independent auditor that will assess any new service or feature, the EU said.
## Potential fines for violations
Violations could lead to fines up to 6% of annual turnover.

> Violations potentially leading to fines of up to six percent of annual turnover, as is the case with the bloc’s existing Digital Services Act on online content.
## Will apply across Europe
The law will override national rules for child safety.

> Once adopted the new "EU KIDS Act" would be "fully applicable all over Europe" and would supersede any national laws with different age limits or rules, an EU official explained.
## Key takeaway

The EU proposed the KIDS Act to restrict social media access for minors under 13, requiring parental oversight for ages 13-14 and banning addictive features like endless scrolling and midnight pings.