The European Union advanced a proposal today that would prohibit minors under the age of 15 from opening autonomous accounts on social media, artificial intelligence services, or gaming platforms.

The measure would create a uniform EU-wide minimum age requirement across member states. It introduces a tiered system to balance access with parental oversight.

Under the plan, children ages 13 and 14 could get limited introductory accounts only after parents set them up and approve them. These accounts would carry restrictions on features and content.

Younger children ages 3 through 12 would be limited to fully parent-controlled child services with no independent access. The proposal states that children under age 3 would be allowed no accounts at all.

Officials described the rules as a response to growing concerns over online safety, data privacy, and the influence of algorithms on developing minds. The framework aims to standardize protections that currently vary by country.

The proposal must still navigate the EU legislative process, including review by the European Parliament and Council. Supporters argue it strengthens family authority while protecting minors from unmonitored digital environments. Critics have raised questions about enforcement challenges and potential impacts on innovation in digital services.

If adopted, the rules would apply to major platforms operating in the EU market and could influence global standards for age verification and account management.