Austria Bans Social Media for Under-14s

0:00On March 27, Austria's government has announced plans for a nationwide ban on social media used by children under 14, joining a growing wave of, countries tackling online harms for kids. Vice-chancellor Andreas Baybler highlighted the addictive nature of social media algorithms comparing them to restrictions on alcohol and tobacco, and stressed the need to shield young users from harmful content. This move comes after a major U.S. court ruling against two tech giants for designing addictive features that hurt teen mental health, while Australia already bans it for under 16s and France for under 15s. Officials across parties agree on the risks, with parents largely supporting the idea amid broader economic pressures and political watchers see it as a popular, unifying step for the coalition. A draft bill with age verification details is due by the end of June, potentially using an EU system or a national one, tying into school reforms that boost lessons on democracy and artificial intelligence.

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