‘We will no longer stand by’: Austria plans social media ban for under-14s

Austria's government is planning to ban social media access for children under 14, citing concerns about addiction and mental health risks. The policy would represent one of Europe's strictest age restrictions on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Austrian officials argue that young adolescents face documented harms from social media use, including sleep disruption and anxiety, justifying the need for legal intervention. The move reflects growing pressure across democracies to regulate tech companies' access to minors, though implementation details—including enforcement mechanisms and penalties—remain unclear. If enacted, the ban could prompt other European countries to consider similar restrictions and potentially influence how social media platforms design age-verification systems.