The proposal presented today is divided into four levels:
Children under three years old should have no screen time at all.
Children between the ages of 3 and 13 should not have their own social media accounts or even their own devices. However, they should be able to access, for example, "child-friendly" video-sharing sites through accounts opened by their parents or guardians. A maximum of one hour a day should be allowed.
Children between the ages of 13 and 15 should be able to start “mini-accounts” on social media, under their parents’ accounts. The opportunity for social contact here should be limited - and here too the limit is set to a maximum of one hour a day.
However, children between the ages of 15 and 18 are allowed to set up their own accounts as they wish.
Age verification
An overarching basic rule is that “all online services must be designed to be secure” - that is, the responsibility lies with the tech giants to ensure that what they offer is okay.
"Now is the time for the EU to act. This law sets clear limits on the digital world, just as we do in the real world," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference in Strasbourg.
The proposal includes several requirements for anyone who offers online social services, video sharing, games or chatbots for people under the age of 18. Among other things, there will be a ban on “addictive” services, the possibility of unlimited scrolling, reward systems and notifications during “bedtime”.
In addition, the services must ensure that they have functioning age verification systems.
Hard time limit
The legal text clearly stipulates that guardians should be able to set a maximum limit for how long each day the children should have access to the parentally approved accounts that are accepted for 13-15 year olds - but that this maximum limit must not be longer than one hour a day.
Such a function must be built in by the company providing the service. It should therefore not be possible to allow a maximum time longer than one hour.
The proposal will now be forwarded as usual to the EU Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers for consideration by the responsible ministers of the member states.
When - and if - the proposal is passed, the internet giants will have six months to terminate the accounts currently held by children under the age of 15.
