The European Commission has released draft guidelines under the Digital Services Act (DSA) aimed at enhancing the privacy, safety, and security of minors on online platforms. The guidelines, open for public consultation until June 10, outline non-binding but influential recommendations for platforms to implement protective measures by design.
Targeting all online platforms accessible by minors—with the exception of micro and small enterprises—the guidelines emphasize a privacy-by-design approach. They propose age-appropriate default settings, age assurance methods, safer recommender systems, and tools to minimize exposure to cyberbullying, grooming, harmful content, and invasive advertising. Platforms are encouraged to limit default features such as location sharing, push notifications during sleep hours, and access to unsolicited contact unless approved by the minor.
The risk-based approach behind the guidelines allows flexibility, recognizing that not all platforms present the same level of threat. The Commission urges providers to conduct a proportionality assessment tailored to the service’s user base and design, especially when implementing age assurance mechanisms such as age verification or estimation.
To support future compliance, the Commission is also developing an interim EU-wide age verification app that will offer proof of age without disclosing personal information. The app is expected to bridge the gap until the EU Digital Identity Wallet becomes operational in 2026.
The draft guidelines are the result of extensive stakeholder engagement, including workshops with children via the Better Internet for Kids (BIK+) initiative, and collaboration with online platforms, civil society experts, and national regulators. They are designed to supplement Article 28 of the DSA and align with other EU legal frameworks on child protection and data privacy.
In tandem, the Commission is also working on a forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, which may address digital harms not fully covered by the DSA.
The final version of the guidelines is expected by summer 2025. Feedback can be submitted via the Commission’s Have Your Say platform.
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