EU Kids Act: how Europe could reshape your children’s social media use

The European Union is preparing a major new framework to limit how minors use social networks, with the EU Kids Act set to reshape the digital habits of millions of children, including those in Moroccan families living across the EU.

EU Kids Act: a social media ban before age 13

Presented by the European Commission, the proposed “Kids Act” aims to strengthen the protection of children and teenagers on digital platforms. It would ban access to covered social networks for children under 13.

In practice, platforms targeted by the law would no longer be allowed to open standard accounts for this age group. This would affect Moroccan children born, studying or spending long periods with relatives in Europe.

For Moroccan parents settled in EU countries, this shift would mean greater responsibility for screens at home, but also legal backing when saying no to social media pressure at school or among friends.

Strictly controlled “mini-accounts” between 13 and 14

Between the ages of 13 and 14, the EU Kids Act introduces the concept of “mini-accounts”. These profiles would be created and managed by parents.

• Use capped at one hour per day
• Contacts pre-approved by parents
• Reduced interactive features

The idea is to offer gradual access to social networks while limiting exposure to sensitive content and unknown users. For Moroccan families in the diaspora, this means more technical involvement: settings, contact validation and close monitoring of screen time.

From age 15, teenagers would be allowed to open regular accounts without mandatory parental intervention, while still benefiting from protections specific to minors.

End of endless scrolling and “hooking” features for under-18s

Beyond age limits, the EU Kids Act targets what it sees as addictive mechanisms built into platforms. For users under 18, several features could disappear or be severely restricted.

Measures under discussion include:

• Ending infinite scrolling in content feeds
• Limiting notifications designed to pull users back online
• Revisiting some reward and penalty systems
• Mandatory breaks and time caps to protect sleep and schooling

These rules would apply not only to social networks, but also to some video-sharing platforms, gaming services and apps that include high-risk interactive functions.

What this could mean for Moroccan families in the EU

For Moroccans living in Europe, the proposal could significantly change how children and teenagers use screens. Parents would have to adapt to more controlled interfaces and, in many cases, give explicit consent for their kids’ online activities.

Families who travel regularly between Europe and Morocco will also face an asymmetric situation, with a stricter digital environment in the EU than in Morocco. A teenager used to clear limits in Europe could suddenly encounter looser conditions during long stays in Morocco, making consistent family rules on both shores of the Mediterranean even more important.

The European Commission also plans to regulate AI assistants and chatbots accessible to minors. This would further shape how young Moroccans in Europe use digital tools for homework help, entertainment and online conversations.

The draft law must now go through the EU legislative process before it can take effect. In the meantime, Moroccan families across Europe can prepare by clarifying household rules and talking with their children about how, when and why they use social networks.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.

For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.