Austria has unveiled plans to ban social media use for children under the age of 14, making it the latest country to consider strict online protections for minors. The announcement followed lengthy negotiations within the conservative-led three-party coalition government, although implementation details are still being finalised.
Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler of the Social Democrats said the government has a responsibility to protect children from addictive and potentially harmful online content, comparing social media to alcohol and tobacco. “There must be clear rules in the digital world too,” Babler said, noting that under-14s would be shielded from addictive algorithms.
Austria joins a growing list of countries imposing restrictions on minors’ access to social media. Australia introduced a ban for under-16s last December, while France approved a ban for under-15s in January. The UK is consulting on a similar measure for under-16s, with Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Ireland also exploring restrictions.
Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr highlighted the harmful effects of social media, stating that children need guidance to use it responsibly. Meanwhile, State Secretary for Digitalisation Alexander Pröll confirmed that a draft bill codifying the ban will be presented by the end of June, including mechanisms to verify users’ ages. Austria may adopt an EU-wide verification system or pursue a national plan if necessary.
Political analyst Thomas Hofer said the proposal is popular with parents and the public, noting that it provides the government with a visible measure of control amid other challenging policy areas such as the economy and budget deficits.
The social media ban is part of a broader set of reforms, which also include changes to secondary school curricula, adding more lessons on democracy and artificial intelligence, and reducing Latin instruction.
