The European Union is preparing to roll out a new age verification application this July, aiming to bolster online protections for minors. This app serves as a precursor to the EU digital identity wallet, expected to launch in 2026, and allows users to confirm their age without disclosing personal information to websites or platforms.
Currently, while the EU lacks unified age verification standards for online platforms, it holds digital service providers legally responsible if they offer content unsuitable for minors—such as pornography or harmful materials. High-traffic sites like Pornhub and XVideos are already under EU investigation to determine whether adequate steps have been taken to restrict access by underage users.
EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized the initiative’s importance in an interview with the Financial Times, stating, “The protection of children is a key priority for us and we will do more.” She urged major social media companies to proactively implement robust safeguards rather than wait for regulatory mandates that could lead to fragmented compliance across different countries.
As part of this regulatory push, the EU also plans to enforce stricter digital safety measures, including:
Defaulting children’s accounts to private mode to limit interactions with unknown users.
Imposing limitations on platforms that use addictive design features, especially those targeting young users.
Platforms like Meta and TikTok are currently under scrutiny for employing such tactics and could face substantial penalties if found in violation of EU regulations.
Virkkunen highlighted growing concerns over digital addiction, stating, “Many online platforms adopt highly addictive design patterns. Minors use these applications for a long time and immerse themselves in mobile devices all day, which will inevitably affect their physical and mental health.”
This upcoming verification system is a key step in the EU’s broader strategy to ensure digital well-being and privacy-first safeguards for younger audiences across the internet.
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