Austria’s coalition government is moving forward with plans to introduce a legal age limit for social media use, targeting children under the age of 14. The measure has been agreed at a policy level, with authorities working on draft legislation expected to be presented by June. The proposal would establish a nationwide minimum age requirement, though details on enforcement and scope are still being defined.
Government representatives said the planned restriction is intended to apply broadly to services that meet certain risk criteria, rather than focusing on specific companies. Officials indicated that factors such as platform design, content exposure, and user interaction models will be considered when determining which services fall under the rule.
Work is also underway on mechanisms to verify user age. Authorities said they are evaluating technical approaches that could confirm age while limiting the collection of personal data. The government has not yet outlined a final system for how these checks would operate in practice.
Officials referenced concerns about how young users interact with digital platforms, including exposure to certain types of content and features that may encourage prolonged engagement. These considerations are being used to inform the structure of the proposed law.
The timeline for implementation has not been finalised. Some policymakers indicated that the measure could take effect during the next school year if the legislative process proceeds as planned. The proposal will require parliamentary approval before it can be enacted.
The initiative forms part of ongoing policy discussions in Austria regarding children’s use of digital services. Authorities said additional measures, including educational programmes on digital literacy, may be introduced alongside the restriction.