Austria plans to restrict access to social networks for children under 14 years old

The Austrian government announced on Friday the introduction of a ban on the use of social networks by children under 14 years old, as part of efforts to protect them from the negative effects of these platforms.

Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler emphasized the need to act against algorithms that create addiction and harmful content, including sexual abuse. Although the details regarding the implementation of the ban remain unclear, the bill will be drafted by the end of June. Austria follows the example of Australia, which has banned access to social networks for individuals under 16 years old, and other countries, such as France, are considering similar measures.