The Austrian government will prohibit access to social media and digital platforms for citizens under 14, following negotiations among the coalition parties forming the executive.
According to the local news agency APA, left-wing, right-wing, and liberal parties in the government reached a final agreement.
“It’s almost impossible for parents to control their children’s consumption” on these platforms, which are designed to make them “consciously addicted,” said Social Democratic Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler at a press conference.
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The Austrian government also plans to introduce a mandatory school subject called “Media and Democracy”, aimed at helping students distinguish fact from fiction and recognize anti-democratic influence attempts, according to the draft law.
Several EU countries, including Portugal, France, Spain, and Denmark, have announced intentions to set limits on social media access. Portugal, for instance, passed legislation in February 2026 restricting free access to social media for under-16s, while Australia became the first country to implement such restrictions in December.
