Overview
- Austrian leaders said Friday the minimum age for using social networks will be set at 14, citing harms from addictive design and exposure to risky content.
- The plan will not blacklist specific apps and will instead apply to platforms that use features like engagement‑boosting algorithms linked to longer screen time.
- Officials pledged a two‑step age check that does not pass personal data to platforms, with privacy‑preserving methods under review and the exact system still undecided.
- The package adds a compulsory school subject called Medien und Demokratie to build media literacy, with lessons on spotting false information and understanding online influence.
- Opposition parties, UNICEF, and digital‑rights groups warn of free‑expression risks, social isolation, and EU‑law hurdles, while the move echoes Australia’s under‑16 ban and feeds ongoing EU talks on age limits.