VIENNA (AP) — The Austrian government announced Friday its intention to prohibit children under 14 from accessing social media platforms, becoming the latest nation to implement age-based digital restrictions for young users.
Alexander Pröll, who oversees digitization efforts in Chancellor Christian Stocker’s administration, stated that proposed legislation will be completed by June’s end. Pröll explained that “technically modern methods” for age verification will be implemented, allowing users to confirm their age while maintaining privacy protection.
The timeline for when this age requirement legislation might become law remains unclear, as it requires parliamentary approval.
Australia led this global movement in 2024, becoming the first nation to remove children under 16 from social media platforms to shield them from dangerous content and excessive screen exposure. Indonesia will implement a comparable restriction beginning Saturday.
Across Europe, French legislators passed legislation in January prohibiting social media access for children under 15, with implementation scheduled for September when the new school year begins. Spain revealed plans last month for an under-16 social media prohibition. Denmark announced an agreement last fall for an access restriction affecting those under 15. Britain’s government stated in January it would examine banning young teenagers from social media platforms.
Austria’s three-party centrist government is now embracing this international trend.
“Today is a good day for children for children in our country,” Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler declared during a press briefing. “In the future, we will protect children and young people with determination against the negative effects of social media platforms.”
“We will no longer look on as these platforms make our children addicted and often also sick,” he stated.
Austrian officials plan to supplement the restriction with enhanced educational programs in schools focusing on media literacy and artificial intelligence understanding.
