Austria to Ban Social Media for Children Under 14
Austria has officially become the latest country to take firm action against technology giants. The Austrian coalition government has announced plans to ban social media use for children under 14 years old, following global concerns about the impact of digital algorithms on the mental health of the younger generation.
This decision was made after lengthy negotiations within the coalition government. Deputy Chancellor Andreas Babler from the Social Democratic Party emphasised that the government cannot stand idly by while social media makes children “addicted and often ill”.
“It is the responsibility of politicians to protect children. This issue is no different from alcohol or tobacco; there must also be clear rules in the digital world,” Babler stated when announcing the plan.
The main focus of this regulation is to protect teenagers from exposure to algorithms designed to create dependency. Babler added that other information providers already have strict rules to protect young people from harmful content, and the same standards must now be applied in the digital space.
In agreement, Austria’s Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr emphasised the “dangerous” nature of social media if not restricted. “Society needs to learn how to use it responsibly,” he said.
Although the technical details are still being finalised, Secretary of State for Digitalisation Alexander Pröll stated that the draft bill related to the ban will be presented by the end of June. The bill is expected to include strict age verification mechanisms for users wishing to access social media platforms.
Austria’s move strengthens the global movement led by Australia (ban for under 16s) and France (under 15s). The UK, Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Ireland are also reportedly considering similar policies.
However, the plan is not without criticism. General Secretary of the Freedom Party, an opposition group, Christian Hafenecker, condemned the policy as a “direct attack on freedom of expression and freedom of information for young people.”
On the other hand, political analyst Thomas Hofer assesses the policy as highly popular among parents. “The government is trying to evoke a sense that in these difficult times, at least there is something they can control,” Hofer told the BBC.
In addition to the social media ban, the Austrian government has also agreed on secondary education reforms that include adding lessons on democracy and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as reducing hours for Latin language classes.