Finance
European lawmakers seek EU-wide minimum age to access AI chatbots, social media
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 26, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 26, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
EU Parliament proposes a minimum age of 16 for accessing AI chatbots and social media, aiming for safer online engagement. The resolution is non-binding.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Parliament on Wednesday approved a non-binding resolution which calls for a default minimum age of 16 to access social media and AI chatbots to ensure "age-appropriate online engagement".
Regulated under the block's Digital Services Act (DSA), online platforms are required to comply with national laws, which leave it up to each country to decide on minimum age requirements.
According to a statement published on the European Parliament's website, lawmakers are calling for a harmonised EU digital minimum age of 16 for access to social media, video-sharing platforms and AI companions, while allowing 13- to 16-year-olds access with parental consent.
They also called for a harmonised European digital age limit of 13, under which no minor could access social media platforms, video-sharing services and AI companions.
The resolution carries no legal weight and serves as a political statement expressing Parliament's position on the issue. Any binding legislation would require formal proposals from the European Commission, followed by negotiations between EU member states and Parliament in a process that typically takes years to complete.
It also proposes additional measures, including a ban on addictive design features that keep children hooked to screens and manipulative advertising and gambling-like elements.
The draft also calls for the outright blocking of websites that don't follow EU rules and to address AI tools that can create fake or inappropriate content.
Both Elon Musk's X and TikTok have faced formal investigations for breaching DSA rules in the past.
(Reporting by Leo Marchandon, Julia Payne and Alessandro Parodi, editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Kirsten Donovan)
A minimum age requirement refers to the age set by regulations that individuals must reach to access certain online services, such as social media and AI chatbots. In this case, the proposed age is 16.
The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a legislative framework in the EU aimed at regulating digital services, ensuring user safety, and holding online platforms accountable for their content and operations.
AI chatbots are automated software programs that use artificial intelligence to simulate conversation with users, providing responses and assistance in real-time through text or voice interactions.
Age-appropriate online engagement refers to the practice of ensuring that online content and interactions are suitable for the age group of the user, promoting safety and well-being.
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