Social networks could be required to use age verification tools to stop under 15s setting up their own personal accounts in the European Union as part of a proposed rulebook to restrict minors' access to social media.

The EU's so-called Kids Act, formally presented on Thursday, would ban children under 13 from accessing social media, and set a minimum EU-wide age of 15 for minors to open their own accounts. Those aged between 13 and 15 would be able to set up limited accounts via their parent or guardian's account.

The rules would also impose certain restrictions on a broader range of online services beyond typical social networks that offer accounts to people under 18 such as video sharing platforms, video games and AI companions, the commission said on Thursday.

It comes as a growing number of countries are seeking to impose national age restrictions on platforms. Australia became the first country to ban children under 16 from social media in late 2025. Several of the EU's own member states including France, Poland and Denmark have also mulled or pushed ahead with their own laws.

Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement that it is up to the platforms themselves to prove they are safe by design for young people.

The law still needs to be negotiated and adopted by EU lawmakers and member states before it can take effect.