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- Austria plans to ban social media use for under 14 (abcnews.com)
Austria Moves to Ban Social Media Use for Children Under 14
VIENNA – Austria’s governing coalition announced on Friday its intention to prohibit social media use for children under the age of 14, aligning the country with a growing number of nations implementing similar restrictions to protect young users.
Alexander Pröll, the official overseeing digitization in Chancellor Christian Stocker’s office, stated that draft legislation will be prepared by the end of June. The new law will incorporate “technically modern methods” for age verification designed to confirm users’ ages while safeguarding their privacy.
The timeline for the law’s implementation remains unclear and will require approval by the Austrian parliament before taking effect.
Austria joins a wave of countries aiming to shield children from the potentially harmful effects of social media. Australia became the first to enforce a ban on social media use for children under 16 starting in 2024, with Indonesia set to follow suit this weekend.
In Europe, France approved a similar ban for under-15s earlier this year, set to begin with the new school year in September. Spain and Denmark have also announced plans to restrict social media access for children under 16 and 15 respectively.
The UK government has expressed interest in considering a ban for young teens.
Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler emphasized the government’s commitment at a news conference, calling the announcement “a good day for children” in Austria. He added, “We will protect children and young people with determination against the negative effects of social media platforms. We will no longer stand by as these platforms foster addiction and harm to our youth.”
In addition to the ban, the government plans to strengthen media literacy education in schools, with a focus on responsible social media use and understanding artificial intelligence.
Austria’s move marks a significant step in the ongoing debate over children’s digital safety and the role of government in regulating technology platforms.
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- Austria plans to ban social media use for under 14 (abcnews.com)