Brussels, 17 September 2026 – MCE welcomes the announcement by the President of the European Commission to propose the EU KIDS Act – the new law regulating children’s access to social media, video-sharing platforms, online games, AI chatbots and AI companions.
This announcement follows months of tireless efforts by child rights organisations and child protection experts calling for a holistic approach rather than a blanket ban. The internet offers children many opportunities to connect, learn and grow, but it also exposes them to risks including online violence, grooming, cyberbullying and addictive features, with impacts on their rights, safety and wellbeing. Grooming and online violence are increasingly emerging as underlying factors contributing to children going missing.
MCE therefore welcomes the proposed gradual and tiered approach to access these platforms as a step towards safer online spaces for children, while continuing calling for stronger platform regulation and responsibility. Questions remain on the implementation and safety requirements of this access restriction, considering the different circumstances in which children access online spaces and their living environments.
Recent EU data shows that young people spend significant amounts of time online, with reported averages of 4.5 hours on school days and more than 6 hours at weekends. This changing digital environment also brings evolving risks, including online grooming, sexual abuse and exploitation, and trafficking.
It is time for EU policymakers to step up efforts to address growing concerns about children’s safety, mental health and wellbeing online. Online spaces need to be safe by design for all their users, and especially for children.
The negotiations on the text and its future implementation should put children’s best interests at the centre, ensuring safe access to online spaces without compromising data protection or children’s right to thrive online. Strong enforcement and monitoring will be critical to ensuring compliance.
Access to support, including hotlines for missing children and child helplines, should always be included and featured across these online spaces, ensuring that children can seek help or report harm in a confidential and safe manner.
MCE looks forward to reviewing the proposal more in depth and to working closely with allies and members to ensure that children’s rights remain at the heart of its development and implementation.