This decision comes after lengthy discussions within the government, although the specifics of how and when the ban will be enforced have yet to be determined.

Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler, representing the Social Democrats, announced the plans, stating that the government cannot idly stand by as social media contributes to addiction and illness in children.

Babler emphasized the responsibility of politicians to safeguard children, drawing parallels with the regulation of alcohol and tobacco, and advocating for clear guidelines in the digital realm.

In the future, children under 14 will be shielded from algorithms designed to be addictive, according to Babler.

Babler pointed out that other providers of information have rules in place to protect young people from harmful content, and these should now be applied to the digital world.

Austria joins a growing list of countries considering limits on social media access for children, driven by concerns about the potential harm caused by certain content.

A recent landmark case in the US saw a jury rule that two major social media companies had intentionally created addictive algorithms that negatively impacted the mental health of young people.

Social media companies argue that they already prohibit children under 13 from joining their platforms, although questions remain about the effectiveness of this policy, and they offer versions of their sites with parental controls.

In December, Australia became the first country to introduce a ban on social media for those under 16, and France's lower house approved a similar ban for those under 15 in January.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his appreciation for Austria's decision to 'join the movement' in a post on social media.

The UK government has initiated a consultation on banning social media for those under 16, while countries like Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Ireland are also exploring similar measures, with Spain and Ireland focusing on under-16s and Denmark and Greece on under-15s.

Austrian Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr highlighted the 'harmful' nature of social media, emphasizing the need for people to learn responsible usage.

State Secretary for Digitalisation Alexander Pröll announced that a draft bill outlining the ban would be presented by the end of June.

The bill is expected to include technical details on a mechanism to verify the ages of individuals accessing social media platforms, with Austria considering the use of an EU system if available, or pursuing a national plan otherwise.

Christian Hafenecker, general secretary of the far-right opposition Freedom Party, condemned the plans as an attack on young people's freedom of expression and information.

However, according to Austrian political analyst Thomas Hofer, the proposed ban appears to be gaining popularity.

Hofer explained that the government is attempting to create a sense of control during turbulent times, and the ban is a point of agreement across party lines, particularly among parents.

In other areas, such as the economy, budget deficit, and rising prices, the governmental parties are on the defensive.

The social media ban is being introduced alongside controversial reforms to secondary schools, which include additional lessons on democracy and artificial intelligence, as well as a reduction in Latin lessons.

The coalition government's decision to implement these reforms and the social media ban reflects their efforts to address various societal concerns.