VIENNA – Austria’s conservative-led coalition announced Friday a plan to ban social media for children under 14, targeting addictive algorithms and harmful content like sexual abuse material.
Cabinet members from the three ruling parties sealed the principle of the prohibition, though details on rollout timing and enforcement remain pending. “We will decisively protect children and young people in future from the negative effects of social media,” Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler of the Social Democrats declared.
“We will no longer stand by and watch while these platforms make our children addicted and often also sick,” Babler added. “The risks associated with this use were ignored for long enough, and now it is time to act.”
The move mirrors global trends: Australia pioneered an under-16 ban in December, while France’s lower house backed one for under-15s in January. Austria’s draft law is due by June’s end, with Babler and conservative digitization minister Alexander Proell opting not to name specific platforms. Instead, restrictions will hinge on algorithm addictiveness and presence of content like “sexualised violence.”