EU Proposes Stricter Online Safety Rules for Social Media and AI Chatbots

The European Parliament has advanced a resolution advocating for a unified minimum age requirement of 16 for accessing social media platforms and AI chatbots across the EU. Children aged 13 to 16 WOULD need parental consent, while those under 13 would face a complete ban. The proposal aims to standardize fragmented national regulations under the Digital Services Act.

Beyond age restrictions, the resolution targets manipulative platform designs. Addictive features, deceptive advertising, and gambling-like mechanics aimed at minors could be prohibited. Non-compliant platforms risk enforcement actions, including potential blocking. The rules also address AI tools generating inappropriate content, signaling tighter oversight of emerging technologies.

Privacy-focused age verification systems may emerge as a multi-year growth sector. The non-binding resolution sets the stage for future legislation, reflecting Brussels' push to balance digital innovation with user protection—a development that could influence global platform governance standards.