Barnardos welcomes EU Kids Act but concerns remain

16th September 2026. The European Commission has introduced a new EU Kids Act, creating a common EU approach to children’s online safety. The proposal covers social media, video sharing platforms, online gaming and AI powered services used by children and young people.

Barnardos welcomes many of the possible strengths outlined in the proposal which will have the potential to keep children safer and better protected from harm online whilst allowing them to continue to access the numerous benefits they receive from the online world. In particular:

• Greater responsibility placed on platforms rather than on children and parents around protecting children and keeping them safe from harm.
• Increased emphasis on platform responsibility and “safe by design” requirements.
• Extends beyond traditional social media to include AI services, gaming and other online environments.
• Creates a graduated, age-based framework rather than a single blanket age restriction.

However, concerns remain. The proposal appears to rely on significant parental involvement/management for children aged 13-15, which will require additional supports to remain available for parents. It remains to be seen how will age verification work in practice and ensure children’s privacy is protected.

Niamh McLoughlin, Barnardos Online Safety Programme Co-Ordinator, said:

“We know from working with children and parents across the country that they want to feel safe and supported online, developing through their online engagement without their wellbeing being harmed. It is positive that children and young people were consulted in shaping the proposal, but it is vital children’s voices continue to play a role in implementation and evaluation of the reforms, measuring their success. It is important that the priority remains protecting children’s rights, reducing harm to children and improving their wellbeing, because childhood lasts a lifetime.”