Austria Proposes Social Media Ban for Under-14s

Austria submits draft law to ban children under 14 from addictive social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, requiring age checks.

The Austrian federal government submitted a draft law to the EU Commission on Monday, July 27, 2026, proposing a social media ban for children under 14. State Secretary for Digitalization Alexander Pröll stated the law targets platforms using addictive algorithms, specifically naming TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, while excluding messenger services like WhatsApp. Platforms must implement a double-blind age verification process for new and existing accounts, ensuring providers only receive age confirmation without personal data. While ID Austria is a suggested verification tool, its use is not mandatory. Non-compliant large platforms face fines up to six percent of global annual turnover. Austria is currently advocating for a uniform age limit across the European Union based on existing platform obligations.