Austria approves social media ban for under-14s

ISTANBUL

Austria’s government on Friday approved a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 14 and introduced plans to reform upper secondary school curricula to strengthen media literacy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) education starting in the 2027/28 academic year.

Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler said at a press conference that social media platforms have “negative effects on young people” and stressed the need for age restrictions similar to those applied to substances and certain media content.

He said the ban will be enforced at the national level while Austria continues efforts to support similar measures across the European Union.

The curriculum reform will introduce a dedicated subject on media literacy in upper secondary schools, while some Latin and second foreign language teaching hours will be reduced.

Informatics classes will also be expanded and updated to include AI, focusing on understanding digital systems and identifying risks and opportunities.

Digital State Secretary Alexander Proll said a legislative proposal outlining technical implementation of the age limit will be presented by the end of June, using verification methods designed to confirm users’ ages without compromising privacy.

The government ruled out introducing a mandatory real-name policy but pledged stricter enforcement against misuse of user data and closer cooperation between social media platforms and authorities to address online harm.

French President Emmanuel Macron reacted to the decision on US social media company X, saying: “Thanks for joining the movement.”

The Austrian measure reflects a growing international trend to limit minors’ access to social media platforms.

Australia banned social media access for children under 16 in December 2025, while France plans to introduce restrictions for users under 15 starting in September 2026.

Spain and some regions of India, including Karnataka state, have also announced restrictions affecting users under 16.

Other European countries, including Denmark, Germany, Norway and the UK, are considering similar rules.