• Austrian government plans to ban social media for children under 14.
• Draft legislation to be prepared by the end of June 2026.
• Government cites concerns over addiction and harmful content for young users.

Austria's conservative-led government has announced intentions to implement a ban on social media use for children aged under 14. This follows discussions among members of the three-party coalition aimed at protecting youth from "addictive" algorithms and harmful content, including instances of "sexualized violence." The Vice Chancellor, Andreas Babler, stated, "We will no longer stand by and watch while these platforms make our children addicted and often also sick," underscoring a proactive stance against potential online dangers, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The government plans to draft legislation by the end of June to define specifics of the ban and mechanisms for age verification on social media platforms. Babler indicated that they would base their decisions not on specific platforms but rather on how addictive their algorithms are. This approach aligns with similar actions in other countries, such as Australia, which recently implemented a ban for those under 16, and France, which approved a ban for users under 15, according to BBC and Reuters.

Austrian officials highlight the necessity of treating social media regulations similarly to alcohol and tobacco, emphasizing the government's responsibility to protect children from digital harm. The plan has garnered significant political support and appears to appeal to parental concerns regarding digital platforms, as indicated by political analysts noting the popularity of such protective measures. Critics, however, may pose challenges to the practicality of enforcing these restrictions, particularly concerning platform compliance, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.