Austria has become the latest country to announce plans for restricting children's access to social media platforms, with the government approving a ban for users under 14 years old. The decision follows lengthy negotiations within the country's three-party coalition government and reflects growing international concern about the impact of social media on young people's mental health.
Today is a good day for children in our country. We will no longer stand by as these platforms make our children addicted and, in many cases, ill
Andreas Babler, Vice-Chancellor โ Deutsche Welle
The Austrian measure positions the country alongside a rapidly expanding group of nations implementing age restrictions on social media access. Australia led the way in December by becoming the first country to ban social media for children under 16, while France's lower house approved restrictions for under-15s in January. The momentum has prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to publicly thank Austria for joining what he called 'the movement.'
Austria's approach will focus on platforms that use addictive algorithms and generate profits while potentially harming children, rather than maintaining a specific list of banned sites. The government plans to present a draft law by the end of June that will outline technical methods for age verification while protecting user privacy. Officials emphasized that the restrictions will not require a mandatory real-name policy but will involve stricter enforcement against data misuse.
There must be clear rules in the digital world too
Andreas Babler, Vice-Chancellor โ BBC
The policy extends beyond simple restrictions to include educational reforms aimed at improving digital literacy. Austria will introduce a new school subject focused on media literacy in upper secondary schools starting in the 2027-28 academic year. The curriculum changes will also expand informatics classes to include artificial intelligence education, helping students understand digital systems and identify both risks and opportunities in the online environment.
The Austrian decision comes amid mounting evidence of social media's potential harm to young users. Earlier this week, a US jury found two major social media companies had intentionally built addictive algorithms that damaged young people's mental health. Austrian officials cited exposure to unrealistic beauty standards, violence glorification, misinformation, and manipulation as key concerns driving their policy decision.
Several other European countries are now considering similar measures. The United Kingdom has launched a consultation on banning social media for under-16s, while Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Ireland are all exploring age restrictions. Spain and Ireland are considering bans for under-16s, while Denmark and Greece are looking at restrictions for under-15s, suggesting a continent-wide shift toward protecting children from potential online harms.