March 30, 2026 | 05:02 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government of Austria is drafting a policy that would ban social media use for children under 14. This policy will be incorporated into a draft law that is scheduled for introduction before the end of June 2026.
The Austrian government stated that this step is part of a broader effort to protect children under the age of from the negative impact of social media. Several comprehensive policies have been developed to protect children and teenagers from the growing digital risks they face.
"The government's efforts would include the new age restriction, improved media literacy and clear rules for social media platforms," said Andreas Babler, the deputy chancellor and leader of the Austrian Social Democratic Party, as quoted from Engadget, on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
However, the government has not specified the mechanisms by which the policy's rules will be implemented. Austria is expected to follow the footsteps of several other countries that have already implemented or are considering similar restrictions on the use of social media by children.
Previously, Australia became the first country to enforce a ban on social media for individuals under the age of 16. Meanwhile, European countries such as Spain and the UK are also considering similar policies.
In Asia, Indonesia has recently approved regulations that prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Roblox. The enforcement of these rules is being carried out gradually until all platforms comply with the applicable provisions.
These actions by Austria add to the list of countries that are increasingly serious about regulating the use of social media by children, as concerns grow over the impact on mental health, data security, and exposure to harmful content in the digital space.
Read: Indonesia Rolls Out Social Media Ban for Under-16s
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