Austria has announced plans to prohibit children under 14 from using social media, joining a growing number of countries considering restrictions to protect minors online.
The decision follows lengthy negotiations within Austria’s three-party coalition government led by the conservatives, though the exact implementation timeline remains unclear.
Deputy Chancellor Andreas Babler of the Social Democrats said the government cannot remain passive while social media platforms make children “addicted and often even sick,” according to BBC, cited by Gazeta Express. He compared the regulation of online platforms to rules for alcohol and tobacco, emphasizing that children under 14 must be protected from addictive algorithms.
Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr described social media as “harmful,” noting that users must learn to use it responsibly. Secretary of State for Digitalization Alexander Pröll said a draft law formalizing the ban will be presented by the end of June, detailing mechanisms to verify users’ ages. Babler added that Austria could adopt an EU-wide system if available, otherwise a national plan will be followed.
Austria joins a growing list of countries introducing age-based social media restrictions: Australia banned access for under-16s in December 2025; France passed a law for under-15s in January 2026, with President Emmanuel Macron praising Austria for joining the initiative. The UK, Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Ireland are also considering similar measures.
The proposed ban comes amid broader reforms in Austrian high schools, including increased lessons on democracy and artificial intelligence and a reduction in Latin hours.
While the far-right Freedom Party condemned the proposal as “an attack on freedom of speech and information for young people,” political analyst Thomas Hofer noted that the ban is broadly popular, including among parents, and may help the government gain support across party lines.
