Austria don join di list of kontris wey dey plan to ban social media for children under 14 years. Di announcement come from Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler of di Social Democrats, wey talk say government no fit just dey look as social media dey make pikin dem addicted and sick. Babler compare di matter to alcohol and tobacco, say “There must be clear rules in the digital world too.”
Di plan na to protect children under 14 from algorithms wey dey addictive. Babler talk say other information providers get clear rules to protect young people from harmful content, and say dem suppose implement am for digital space. Austria join Australia, France, UK, Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Ireland wey dey consider similar bans.
Di move follow lengthy negotiations inside di conservative-led three-party coalition government for Austria. Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr from di liberal Neos party stress say social media dey harmful, and say people need to learn how to use am responsibly. State Secretary for digitalisation Alexander Pröll from di conservative ÖVP say dem go present draft bill for di ban by end of June.
Di bill go contain technical details of how dem go verify people age when dem wan access social media platforms. Babler talk say Austria fit use EU system if e ready, but dem go pursue national plan if e no ready. Opposition Freedom Party general secretary Christian Hafenecker condemn di plans as “a direct attack on young people’s freedom of expression and freedom of information.”
Political analyst Thomas Hofer talk say di proposed ban dey popular among parents. Hofer tell BBC say “The government is trying to evoke the feeling that, in turbulent times, they have at least something under control.” E add say “Such a ban is very popular, also among parents. So, it’s one of the easy points that they can make across party lines.”
Di social media ban agreement come alongside controversial reforms to secondary schools for Austria. Di reforms include more lessons on democracy and artificial intelligence, and cut for number of Latin lessons. Di move follow landmark case for US where jury find two social media giants intentionally build addictive algorithms wey harm young people mental health.
Social media companies point to under-13s being disallowed from joining their platforms, though questions remain about how strictly dis dey enforced. Dem also get versions of their sites with parental controls. Australia introduce ban for under-16s for December, become first nation to do so. France lower house approve ban for under-15s for January.
French President Emmanuel Macron thank Austria for “joining the movement” for post on X. UK government don launch consultation on banning social media for under-16s. Spain and Ireland dey consider bans for under-16s, while Denmark and Greece dey consider for under-15s. Di growing movement across Europe show increasing concern about social media effects on children.
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