Tim Sweeney criticizes EU proposal on age limits for online services
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney criticized a Reuters-reported EU proposal that could restrict children’s access to online games, social media and video platforms.
- In his post, Sweeney called the plan "terrible for the next generation of humanity" and pointed to Fortnite Creative Mode and Roblox Studio as examples of digital creation.
- The available information mentions a possible system with 15+, 13-14 with parent-approved starter accounts, 3-12 with child accounts, and under 3 with no legal access, but does not confirm this is already final policy.
What happened
Tim Sweeney, CEO and co-founder of Epic Games, responded on September 16, 2026, to Reuters reporting about a possible EU proposal for age-based access to online services. The described plan would apply not only to games, but also to social media, video platforms and AI chatbots.
In a post on X, Sweeney said this would be "terrible for the next generation of humanity." He argued that today’s apps and games serve the role that "paintbrushes and tree forts" once did, and cited Fortnite Creative Mode and Roblox Studio as examples of tools that let users create digitally.
The details cited by Reuters describe a system in which users aged 15 and older could create accounts independently. Teens aged 13 and 14 would, under that concept, only be able to access services through parent-approved starter accounts with restrictions, while children aged 3 to 12 would only be allowed to use parent-managed child accounts and children under 3 would have no legal access.
Based on the available sources, it has not been confirmed that the European Union has officially adopted the proposal yet. It is also unclear whether the age thresholds and account types mentioned would remain unchanged in any final text.
Timeline
September 14, 2026: Reuters reportedly says the EU is working on a document with age rules for digital services.
September 16, 2026: Tim Sweeney responds on X and calls the proposal "terrible for the next generation of humanity."
September 16, 2026: In the same post, Sweeney points to Fortnite Creative Mode and Roblox Studio as examples of digital creation tools.
Background
The debate centers on a possible European framework for age-based access to online services. In the available information, the proposal is linked to multiple platform types at once: games, social media, video services and AI chatbots.
Epic Games enters the discussion mainly through Fortnite Creative Mode, while Roblox is mentioned because of Roblox Studio. Sweeney uses those examples to argue that digital platforms are not only for consumption, but also for creation.
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Sources
- Reuters report as cited in the available article information
- X post by @TimSweeneyEpic on September 16, 2026