Balancing act  

The proposal also takes into account the different approaches that EU capitals were already developing in their national measures. The two most important capitals to balance are Paris and Berlin, which are calling for bans for under-15s and under-13s, respectively. The Kids Act’s tiered approach, which includes different restrictions at each age, could keep both capitals happy.  

Finalizing the rules will be an uphill battle for European legislators. The 55-page proposal needs approval from national governments and the European Parliament. The national bills would effectively be scrapped by the Commission’s EU-wide proposal. 

Estonia may be a particularly thorny negotiator, having publicly opposed any such bans or age limits. Rome, a major European player, has also so far decided against social media restrictions. The Netherlands’ digital minister, Willemijn Aerdts, said in comments that the country supports the proposal but would still prefer the minimum age to be set at 15. A spokesperson for Spain’s digital ministry also emphasized their existing efforts to set a threshold at 16.  

Still, given the outcry from parent groups and rising popular opposition to tech platforms, many EU capitals have an incentive to get this done quickly.  

Ireland’s digital minister Patrick O’Donovan, who last week was very publicly pushing for the ban to be set at 15, struck a conciliatory note Thursday. “I think the nature of these things is that you strive for the highest possible ideals, make your case, and now is the time to examine the implementation and process around delivery of change,” O’Donovan said. “We are united in our shared purpose here.”  

The Commission wants to conclude negotiations within the next 8 to 12 months, a senior Commission official told reporters. It’s not the length or complexity of the rules, but the urgency that the various legislators feel that will determine the speed of negotiations, the official added.