After the killing spree: Federal Government is planning strict age limit for social media

After the killing spree: Federal Government is planning strict age limit for social media

After the tragic killing spree in Graz, the federal government plans to introduce a stricter age limit for access to social media for minors. State Secretary Alexander Pröll (ÖVP) announced in a government declaration and the program Ö1- "Lunchjournal" that the main goal is to oblige platforms to consistently comply with their age restrictions. The first steps in this direction could be decided in the Council of Ministers next Wednesday.

Pröll pointed out that the General Data Protection Regulation could serve as an effective instrument to implement these measures, since the processing of data from under-14 year olds is restricted. The WU business informatist Sarah Spiekermann expressed a positive statement about an EU-wide age limit of 15 years and called for a strict registration for digital platforms.

political support and demands

The reactions to the announced measures are consistently positive. The Greens have put themselves behind the advance and support the demand for age limits for social media. Barbara Neßler, spokeswoman for children, youth and family, emphasized the urgency of age limits to protect children on the Internet.

A central point in the discussion is the proposal to link social media accounts with the ID Austria. Alexander Pröll considers this approach to be sensible in principle and would like to check the possibilities together with all stakeholders.

international perspectives and children's rights

In an international context, the topic is already treated differently. In Australia, for example, a law was decided that prescribes a minimum age of 16 years for certain social media platforms. In Europe, however, the Federal Center for Child and Youth Media Protection (BZKJ) is pursuing a different approach that puts the digital child rights and the duties of the providers for the foreground.

Sebastian Gutknecht, director of the BZKJ, emphasizes the right of children and adolescents to digital participation. Article 17 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Children says that children have the right to participate in the media, including social media. The Digital Services Act and the amendment of the Youth Protection Act 2021 include measures that aim to ensure that digital services in the EU are safely designed for children.

The BZKJ works closely with providers, experts and young people to promote safe media use. In this context, a general ban for under 16 year olds is considered too largely. Instead, an effective and platform-specific age review is regarded as a necessary preventive measure to protect the rights of children in the digital space.

With the planned reforms and the focus on child and youth media protection, the federal government wants to create a safer digital environment for young users and at the same time strengthen legal framework conditions.