Social media ban for minors, the EU freezes national laws for 12 months

The EU takes its time on the ban on social media for under 14s proposed by Austria. The European Commission has decided to postpone for a year "any draft national law that overlaps with future harmonized standards" to "avoid fragmentation of our internal market". This was announced by Thomas Regnier, spokesperson for the European Commission, regarding the opinion expected today on the Austrian bill to ban the use of social media by those under 14. For Brussels, the priority now concerns the EU Kids Act, the European legislation under discussion for the protection of minors online, "to safeguard the work of our co-legislators and ensure effective application of our rules", reiterated Regnier.

Austria's request

Austria had asked to introduce a ban on access to social networks for children under 14, with the aim of protecting them from the risks associated with the use of digital platforms. The proposal concerned platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat, in particular those that use features considered potentially capable of encouraging compulsive use. A proposal different from the European approach, which as part of the EU Kids Act aims to ban social media for under 13s and to allow children between 13 and 15 limited access, with the involvement of their parents.