The draft Kids Act would set 15 as the minimum legal age to create an independent online account, and it makes age verification mandatory for online games accounts, according to the draft text.

The European Union is preparing new regulations under the name Kids Act that would require platforms to confirm users' ages before allowing independent accounts for minors. The draft frames the measure as intended to protect underage users from online risks, and it places the age threshold at 15 for independent account creation; users younger than 15 would need varying levels of parental oversight to be active.

Scope and enforcement

According to the proposed rules, the restrictions would extend beyond online games to include social networks, video platforms and artificial intelligence chatbots. The draft targets product features such as infinite scroll and automated content recommendation systems. Affected companies would be required to contribute fees to the European Union to cover implementation and supervisory costs tied to the new obligations.

The draft presents the measures and qualifying details without a specified enforcement timetable, and it explicitly links the regulatory package to the stated aim of protecting children and adolescents in digital environments.