Politicians are demanding: Social media ban for children under the age of 15!

Politicians are demanding: Social media ban for children under the age of 15!

After the tragic killing spree in Graz, in which a perpetrator who was strongly active in social media, published various contributions, the Federal Government plans far-reaching measures to combat online radicalization. According to [VOL.AT] (https://www.vol.at/ government-plant-social-media-verbot-fuer-un-jahrige/9560870), State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried (SPÖ) has asked to introduce a social media ban for children under the age of 15. This advance aims to reduce the dangers that come from social media, especially with regard to the radicalization of young people.

Leichtfried emphasizes that online radicalization is a serious security policy problem. The perpetrator had intensively dealt with similar incidents in the United States in advance of his crime and shortly before his killing spree released a photo on X (formerly Twitter), which underlines the dangers of these platforms. He plans to enforce the legal determination of the social media ministry by the end of the year to prevent such incidents in the future, as [today.at] (https://www.heute.at/s/regierung-knallhart-s-s- first-15-jahren-120182).

uniform age limit in the EU

In addition, the introduction of a uniform age limit is sought at the European level. The topic of priority is to be treated during the Danish EU Council Presidency. This could set an international standard and help to regulate extremist content more efficiently. Leichtfried sees the need to strengthen the responsibility of international platform operators and the United Nations in order to identify and remove extremist content.

A planned national action plan against right -wing extremism should also be implemented as quickly as possible. Such a plan is considered an important step by experts to counter the radicalization of young people. At the same time, a list of extremist organizations should be created that could be decisive in this context, [bpb.de] (https://www.bpb.de/themen/parties/rechtspopulism/562042/discussionsraeume- und- radicalization process-in-sociale-medien/) works.

measures for security and control

The Ministry of the Interior will take the necessary legal steps to put these new rules into force. The monitoring of social media will only be decided according to the order of a three-judge Senate, with a legal protection officer having control over the process. Leichtfried points out that a high level of legal and abuse protection must be guaranteed. Causes about possible abuse, as can already be observed in other countries, are rejected.

In the next two years, the necessary software solutions will also be obtained in order to effectively implement the monitoring and control of online radicalization. It is clear that the development of extremist content and the influence of social media on young people are a complex and complex problem. The measures made are therefore an important step to ensure the security of society and to protect young people from the dangers of the digital world.