As the first generation to grow up so deeply entangled with the digital sphere, children today are facing challenges that are completely unique to our time.
Addictive algorithms, echo chambers, rampant disinformation and extremism, inappropriate sexual content and cyberbullying – how do we navigate a digital world that is constantly changing?
This issue has presented itself time and again. How do EU legislators create laws on something that is ever-changing and evolving? The EU has already introduced the Digital Services Act, the AI Act and other digital tools, but now it has introduced the EU KIDS Act.
What is the EU KIDS Act?
For children growing up in this new technological arena, ensuring their safety is a growing responsibility. Parents have also been calling for action to protect their children’s safety, wellbeing and freedoms. In response to these combined factors, the EU KIDS Act was announced last week.
The Act will introduce gradual age limits for social media. Under this tiered approach, under 13s would not be able to access social media, while those aged 13 to under 15 would use a parent- or guardian-managed “mini account”. From 15 onwards, young people would be able to manage their own accounts.
This proposal would require platforms to be safe by design for young users, an important accountability measure in an age of big tech monopoly and precarious online protection measures.
It will apply to online services used by minors, including social media, video-sharing platforms, online games, and AI companions and chatbots.
How do liberals see it?
For liberals, protecting children online should not mean simply keeping them away from the digital world. It means giving them the tools and confidence to navigate it safely.
Parents should have access to the tools they need to protect their children, while children themselves need the education to recognise disinformation, understand algorithms and deal with harmful content, cyberbullying and AI-generated material.
Digital resilience starts in the classroom. Empowering young people with the skills to understand the online world is just as important as protecting them from its harms. Children deserve a digital world designed around their safety, wellbeing and freedom, not one designed simply to maximise engagement and profits for big tech.
The EU KIDS Act is an opportunity to make sure the next generation can grow up online with both protection and the power to make informed choices for themselves.