Austria’s plan to restrict social media for minors faces EU Commission delays, while the EU proposes unified age limits via the EU KIDS Act.
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The European Commission has paused the timeline for Austria to implement a proposed law banning minors under 14 from using certain social media platforms, extending the period by twelve months. Austria’s government expressed dissatisfaction with this delay, arguing that the law is necessary to protect children from harm caused by social media. The Commission’s decision aims to prevent disparate national rules from undermining the single digital market, and it has proposed the EU KIDS Act, which suggests age restrictions (no accounts under 13, parental oversight for 13-14 year olds, and self-management from age 15) and measures to limit addictive platform features across the EU. Other countries have taken unilateral action, such as Australia banning accounts for those under 16, though effectiveness and legal challenges have been noted. In Lithuania, while there is discussion about age limits, the government has decided against a national law, preferring to align with the proposed EU regulations, which would establish uniform age verification and safety standards across the bloc.
