Austria Plans to Restrict Social Media Access for Children Under 14

Austria’s government is moving forward with plans to ban social media use for children under 14, citing concerns over addictive algorithms and harmful content. The conservative-led, three-party government announced a deal to introduce the ban, aiming to protect kids from online risks. Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler emphasized the need to act, stating, “We will no longer stand by and watch while these platforms make our children addicted and often also sick”. The draft legislation is expected by June, but implementation details are still being worked out. Other countries, like Australia and France, have similar bans in place or are considering them.