Austria Plans to Prohibit Social Media Use for Children Under 14

Austria is preparing to ban social media access for children under the age of 14, introducing one of the strictest youth digital policies in Europe. The proposed measure would require platforms to verify user ages and block accounts belonging to anyone below the threshold, with the goal of reducing exposure to online harm, cyberbullying, and addictive content during early development. Government officials argue that the step is necessary to protect mental health and give parents stronger safeguards, while enforcement would likely involve fines for non-compliant companies. The plan has prompted debate over digital rights, parental responsibility, and how age verification can be implemented without compromising privacy.