Austria’s government has moved forward with a plan to ban social media use for children under the age of 14, aiming to shield young users from addictive features and harmful online content.
The draft law was presented on Monday during a summer cabinet meeting in Salzburg and is being sent for public consultation as well as review by the European Commission. Officials say the measure could take effect as early as January next year if approved, according to ORF News.
The proposal targets major platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, which are seen as relying on design features that encourage prolonged use. Messaging services like WhatsApp would not be affected.
Under the plan, platforms will be required to verify users’ ages. The law focuses on features considered particularly addictive or risky for children, including algorithm-driven recommendations dominated by content from strangers, endless scrolling, and autoplay functions. It also highlights reward systems that encourage continuous use, push notifications that draw users back, and the risk of unwanted contact from unknown accounts.
Chancellor Christian Stocker described the proposal as a milestone, saying it would introduce clear rules for the first time on young people’s access to certain social media platforms. He called it an important step toward protecting children in the digital space.
Vice Chancellor and Media Minister Andreas Babler also welcomed the move, calling it “a very good day for children” and expressing hope that the law will pass smoothly through the EU review process.
The legislation places responsibility on tech companies to comply. Platforms that fail to meet the requirements could face fines of up to six percent of their global annual revenue. However, companies will be allowed to create child-friendly versions of their services.
