Austria Plans Social Media Ban for Under 14s

Austria's governing coalition announced plans Friday to impose a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 14, aiming to shield young people from the platforms' addictive designs and harmful content. The measure, unveiled during a joint news conference in Vienna, targets algorithms that promote dependency and expose users to risks such as misinformation, unrealistic beauty standards, and glorification of violence.

Alexander Pröll, the junior minister for digitization in Chancellor Christian Stocker's office, stated that draft legislation would be prepared by the end of June. The proposal requires parliamentary approval, and while no specific implementation date has been set, officials expressed hope for swift enactment, potentially as early as this summer. Pröll emphasized the use of advanced age verification technologies that prioritize user privacy, allowing children to confirm their age without compromising personal data.

Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler, speaking on behalf of the three-party centrist coalition, underscored the urgency of the initiative. "We will no longer stand by and watch while these platforms make our children addicted and often also sick,"...