Strasbourg, September 17 (QNA) - The European Commission has announced details of proposed restrictions on minors' use of social media, online gaming, and AI chatbots to enhance child safety online.

Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that existing digital technologies were never designed with child safety in mind, pointing to evidence regarding the impact of social media on brain development and personality.

Under the proposal, platforms must demonstrate safety-by-design standards for minors. Children aged 13 to 15 would require parental supervision to access social media platforms, with independent account creation permitted at age 15.

The regulations would also cover video-sharing services, online gaming platforms, and AI companions.

Key protective measures include banning infinite scrolling, reward mechanics, and nighttime push notifications, alongside setting minors' accounts to private by default and disabling location, camera, and microphone features.

AI chatbots will also face constraints to prevent emotional dependency and mitigate harmful interactions.

The proposal will undergo review and potential amendment by the European Parliament and EU member states before final adoption. (QNA)