The Global Wave of Digital Childhood Regulation: From France’s Ban to AI Challenges

In July 2026, France became the first European Union country to approve a blanket ban on social media for children under 15. From September this year, minors will be prevented from creating new accounts, and existing accounts will be blocked from January 2027. This move is part of a broader global wave responding to growing concerns about the impact of digital technologies on children's mental health and safety. The European Union and the United States are actively working on new legislative frameworks that are set to fundamentally transform digital childhood.

Why is Regulation Accelerating?

The intensification of regulatory efforts is not accidental. Children are spending more time online than ever before – according to some studies, up to 23 hours a week, an increase from 16 hours in 2022. They are also more actively involved in content creation. However, this also brings increased risks, from cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content to the development of addiction and negative impacts on mental health. Adolescent girls, in particular, are at risk from the negative influences of social media, according to research.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence also plays a key role. Generative AI brings new threats, such as deepfakes that are becoming increasingly realistic, or AI companions that can cause unhealthy emotional dependence in children. For example, AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) saw a 154% increase between 2024 and 2025. These new forms of digital threats are forcing lawmakers to find ways to protect the most vulnerable.

Key Approaches to Regulation Worldwide

Regulation is moving in several directions, often complementing each other but sometimes differing in implementation:

1. Bans and Age Restrictions: The French law is the latest example of a direct ban for younger children. Similar discussions are taking place elsewhere. The European Parliament proposes a harmonized minimum age of 16 for access to social media, video-sharing platforms, and AI companions across the EU, with access for 13-16-year-olds possible with parental consent.

1. Age Verification: More and more countries require online platforms to implement effective age verification mechanisms, not only for access to adult content but also for social media itself. The European Commission is working on an EU-wide age verification application designed to protect user privacy and integrate with the future European Digital Identity (eID). The goal is to allow users to prove their age without sharing sensitive personal data.

1. Platform Obligations (Duty of Care / Safe by Design): Laws like the UK's Online Safety Act or proposals in the US (e.g., the Kids Online Safety Act - KOSA) place responsibility on the platforms themselves. They require platforms to design their services safely for children, for example, by setting the highest possible privacy standards for minors by default, limiting algorithmic targeting, or providing parental control tools. This represents a shift from merely removing harmful content to preventative design.

1. Regulation of AI Chatbots and Content: With the development of AI, specific laws for AI agents are emerging. For instance, in the US, the SAFEBOTs Act is being debated, which would require chatbots to clearly disclose that they are AI, prohibit them from impersonating licensed professionals (doctors, therapists), and mandate the provision of crisis information if a child mentions self-harm or suicide.

Challenges and Practical Implications

Implementing these regulations is not straightforward. Age verification faces concerns about privacy and freedom of expression, as it can lead to extensive data collection and limit anonymity. Different age limits and approaches in individual EU countries and beyond create a fragmented regulatory environment, which is a major challenge for global platforms.

For parents and schools, this means the need for active involvement. While laws create a framework, the real protection of children begins at home and in the school environment. It is crucial to develop digital literacy, guide children towards responsible online behavior, and utilize available parental control tools.

Checklist for Parents and Schools: How to Assess Online Platforms for Children

Given the new wave of regulation and the continuous evolution of the digital environment, it is crucial for parents and schools to actively assess the online platforms children encounter. This checklist will help you evaluate whether a platform meets the basic principles of digital safety:

• Age Verification and Access Control: Does the platform have robust age verification mechanisms to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content or services? Does it offer parental controls over children's accounts? (e.g., France requires age verification for account creation for under-15s.)
• Default Privacy Settings: Are the highest possible privacy standards set as default for children's accounts? Is it easy to restrict the sharing of personal data, location, or contact with strangers?
• Algorithmic Targeting and Content Recommendation: Does the platform limit algorithmic content recommendations that could lead to addiction or exposure to harmful material for users under 18? Is it possible to turn this feature off?
• Protection Against Harmful Content and AI Risks: Does the platform have clear policies and mechanisms for moderating content that promotes self-harm, eating disorders, or contains AI-generated deepfakes? Are there warnings about interacting with AI?
• Transparency and User Control: Is it clear to children and parents how children's data is collected, used, and shared? Does the platform offer tools for managing time spent online or alerts for prolonged use?
• Crisis Support: Does the platform provide easily accessible information about crisis hotlines or support if a child encounters cyberbullying, abuse, or has self-harm thoughts? (Especially important for AI chatbots.)

The digital landscape for children is changing rapidly, and parents and schools must stay one step ahead. An active approach to selecting and monitoring online tools is as important today as protection in the real world. At one-o-one.cz, we focus on education and practical tools that help create a safer digital environment for everyone. More information about our digital child safety initiatives can be found at onesafety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the goal of France's new social media law for children? A: The goal is to protect the mental health and safety of children under 15 by restricting their access to social media. The law prohibits the creation of new accounts from September 2026 and blocks existing ones from January 2027.

Q: How does the European Union plan to verify age online? A: The European Commission is developing an EU-wide age verification application that will allow users to prove they meet an age threshold without sharing sensitive personal data. It will integrate with the European Digital Identity (eID).

Q: How does AI affect children's digital safety? A: AI introduces new challenges, such as realistic deepfakes that can be misused for bullying or creating harmful content. Additionally, AI companions are emerging that can foster unhealthy emotional dependence in children. Regulations are attempting to address these threats with specific rules for AI chatbots and content.