Austria is set to ban children under 14 from using social media platforms. The government plans to implement this by the start of the new school year in September 2026. State Secretary for Digital Affairs Alexander Pröll confirmed these plans. He stated that the government is looking into ways to enforce the ban and find technical solutions. This would help ensure that platforms can stop users under 14 from creating or keeping accounts on major social media sites. This move follows Australia’s new rule that prohibits under-16s from accessing social media, which took effect in December.
It also comes after France’s National Assembly approved a ban for those under 15. Austria aims to adopt a similar approach by placing the responsibility for enforcement on the social media platforms. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and others would need to verify user ages or face hefty fines. However, the proposal is facing challenges within Austria’s ruling coalition. The liberal NEOS party supports protecting children online but disagrees with the Australian model due to concerns about data collection.
NEOS has suggested using Austria’s eID system for age verification, but this can’t be put into place until 2027. The Greens have called for mandatory age verification and stricter penalties for platforms that do not comply. Youth organizations are divided on the issue. Some appreciate the protection, while others caution that a blanket ban could take away important online experiences for young people. Austria is part of a larger trend in Europe, where France is also moving to ban under-15s and the UK is considering similar measures. Governments across the continent are looking for solutions to address children’s mental health and safety online. As of March 2026, no legislation has been enacted yet. Cross-party expert groups are still working to finalize the technical and legal framework.