Two European governments are advancing proposals to restrict social media access for children by setting minimum age requirements for use of online platforms. The governments of Austria and Poland said they are considering bans on social media for younger users, with differing age thresholds and technical approaches under discussion.
Austria’s government is examining a proposal that would prohibit children under 14 from using social networking services. A State Secretary for Digital Affairs said age verification and implementation mechanisms are key parts of the debate, and that authorities would like any restriction to be in place by the start of the 2026-27 school year. Members of Austria’s ruling coalition have expressed broad support for the idea, although precise enforcement measures have not been agreed upon. Officials are looking at existing models, including Australia’s age verification approaches for social media access.
In Poland, the government is advancing a draft law to restrict access to social media platforms for children under 15. The proposal, being developed by members of the ruling coalition, would work with Poland’s official digital identity platform to allow age confirmation without revealing other personal information. Officials said age verification could be built into this existing system to restrict access by users below the proposed age threshold. Lawmakers aim to finalise the draft by the end of February 2026, with implementation expected by late 2027 if the bill is passed.
Polish officials cited concerns about early exposure to digital social platforms and the perceived failure of existing age limits to prevent young children from using services designed for older audiences. A government survey reported that a majority of respondents support delaying social media use for younger children due to safety risks and issues related to excessive platform engagement.
Both proposals are part of a broader European trend of policymakers scrutinising the risks associated with social media use by minors. Other countries have introduced or are considering rules requiring age verification or restricting access for younger users. Lawmakers and regulators across the continent are weighing the balance between online safety, personal privacy, and freedom of expression as discussions continue.