Austrian Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler announced that a bill to ban social networks for children and youth will be prepared by the summer, the Austrian APA agency reported, quoted by BTA.
A law to regulate social networks will be proposed, the government announced today. The goal is for young people to be better protected from harmful content on the platforms and at the same time to increase the responsibility of the operators of these platforms.
The main part of the new law will be an age limit for using social networks such as "Instagram", "Snapchat" and "Tiktok".
"The issue of introducing a minimum age for using social networks meets strong support both in the government and among the population. With such a law, we will be prepared to act at the national level if an agreement is not reached quickly at the EU level," Babler said.
It is not yet clear at what age the platforms will be banned, this will be clarified in the course of subsequent discussions within the government. The important thing is that "children and young people are protected at such a crucial stage, when they need guidance the most," he added.
The bill provides for heavy penalties for platform operators who violate the rules. The framework of the European Digital Services Act (DSA) could be used, which allows for penalties of up to 6% of the company's annual turnover. This would mainly affect platforms such as TikTok or Snapchat, which distribute or favor content through algorithms. The law will also include other applications through which adults can contact children.
In addition, Babler wants more transparency in algorithms, as they have a key influence on the content that users see.
"It is about responsibility and fairness. Platforms do not only offer technical infrastructure, they manage content. For other information providers, such as television and radio, clear rules apply - and they should also apply in the digital space," said Babler. He added that this issue will also be worked on at EU level.
Babler also wants to strengthen the media literacy of young people. In view of the increasing transfer of public discussion to digital platforms, media competence is "a fundamental issue for democratic sustainability," he points out. Additional measures include free access for young people to traditional media and support for media companies' media literacy initiatives. Both measures should be implemented as soon as possible.