The European Union is looking at big changes for the internet. Lawmakers have proposed a new plan that would stop children under the age of 13 from using social media sites.

This is a major move that would change how kids spend time online. It doesn't just stop at social media, either. The rules would likely apply to online video games and even AI chatbots.

The plan aims to make the internet safer for children. To make this work, apps and websites would need to check how old their users are. This is called 'age verification.' If an app can't prove how old you are, they might not be allowed to let you on their platform.

While some people are excited about protecting kids from harmful content and online dangers, others are concerned about privacy. Some critics think that forcing every website to check our ages could lead to more personal data being collected. There is also a worry that these rules might make it harder for people to be anonymous online.

This proposal is still being discussed. If it passes, it would force companies like Facebook, TikTok, and many others to completely change how their apps work for younger users.

For now, the focus remains on keeping children safe. We will keep you updated as this story moves forward.

Source: euractiv.com