Digital Services Act — Guidelines on Protecting Minors
Digital Services Act — Guidelines on Protecting Minors in European Union: active, effective July 14, 2025. Applies to All online platforms and services accessible to minors in the EU, with heightened requirements for Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs). Age range: Under 18 (Minors). Private-by-defau
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | European Union |
|---|---|
| Category | International |
| Status | active |
| Effective date | July 14, 2025 |
| Age range | Under 18 (Minors) |
| Applies to | All online platforms and services accessible to minors in the EU, with heightened requirements for Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) |
Key requirements
- Private-by-default accounts for minors
- Age assurance mechanisms required
- Prohibition on profiling-based advertising to minors
- Disable addictive design features (streaks, autoplay, push notifications)
- Parental controls and monitoring tools
- Risk assessments for systemic risks to minors
- Clear terms of service accessible to minors
- Easy-to-use reporting mechanisms for harmful content
Notes
Guidelines published July 14, 2025. Enforcement escalated in 2026: the Commission found TikTok in breach for addictive design (February 2026), opened a formal investigation into Meta (Instagram/Facebook) over under-13 access (April 2026), and issued preliminary findings that TikTok minors' accounts fail DSA safety standards (July 2026). Final decisions and fines pending.
Frequently asked
What does Digital Services Act — Guidelines on Protecting Minors require?
Private-by-default accounts for minors Age assurance mechanisms required Prohibition on profiling-based advertising to minors Disable addictive design features (streaks, autoplay, push notifications) Parental controls and monitoring tools Risk assessments for systemic risks to minors Clear terms of service accessible to minors Easy-to-use reporting mechanisms for harmful content
Who must comply with Digital Services Act — Guidelines on Protecting Minors in European Union?
All online platforms and services accessible to minors in the EU, with heightened requirements for Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs)
When does Digital Services Act — Guidelines on Protecting Minors take effect and what is its status?
Effective July 14, 2025. Current status: active. Guidelines published July 14, 2025. Enforcement escalated in 2026: the Commission found TikTok in breach for addictive design (February 2026), opened a formal investigation into Meta (Instagram/Facebook) over under-13 access (April 2026), and issued preliminary findings that TikTok minors' accounts fail DSA safety standards (July 2026). Final decisions and fines pending.
Related laws
| Law | Jurisdiction | Category | Status | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media Minimum Age Law | Australia | International | active | December 10, 2025 |
| Online Safety Act — Age Verification Requirements | United Kingdom | International | active | July 25, 2025 |
| Online Safety Act — Child Safety Regime | United Kingdom | International | active | July 25, 2025 |
| Under-16 Social Media Ban (Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 regulations) | United Kingdom | International | pending | Spring 2027 (expected) |
| EU Digital Minimum Age & Mandatory Age Assurance Initiative | European Union | International | pending | TBD (Commission proposal expected; Digital Fairness Act 2026) |
| GDPR — Children's Consent Requirements | European Union | International | active | May 25, 2018 |
| Under-15 Social Media Ban (2026 Law) | France | International | blocked | N/A (struck down August 14, 2026) |
| Organic Law for the Protection of Minors in Digital Environments | Spain | International | pending | TBD (parliamentary approval expected autumn 2026) |
Put it into practice
- Generate the policy: HIPAA policy generator (generatepolicy.com)
- Buy the policy pack: Healthcare Compliance Bundle (cyberpolicy.shop)
- Build it yourself: HIPAA Readiness Accelerator (ciso.diy)