The Czech government is weighing a potential ban on social media use by children under 15.
Czech Leaders Signal Support For Under-15 Social Media Ban
On Sunday, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said he supports restricting children’s access to social media, citing warnings from experts about its impact on mental health and development, reported Reuters.
“I am in favor because the experts I know say that it is terribly harmful to children,” Babis said in a video message shared on his social media accounts. “We must protect our children.”
Legislation Could Be Proposed This Year
Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlicek later said the government is seriously considering legislative action.
Speaking on CNN Prima News, he said a proposal could be introduced as early as this year if the cabinet agrees to move forward.
The discussions come as governments across Europe reassess how digital platforms affect children’s well-being, with particular focus on addictive design features and excessive screen time.
Europe Follows Australia’s Lead On Social Media Restrictions
Spain, Greece, Britain and France are also exploring stricter rules on teenage social media use. Australia set a global precedent in December by becoming the first country to ban access to social media platforms for users under 16.
Tech Giants Push Back Against Youth Social Media Bans
After Australia became the first country to ban children under 16 from major social media platforms, Elon Musk’s X complied just hours before the deadline, saying that it was not their choice.
In December, Reddit Inc. (NASDAQ:RDDT) also filed a legal challenge to Australia’s under-16 social media ban, claiming the law unlawfully restricts free political expression.
Spain’s proposed measures, announced last week, also sparked backlash from tech leaders, including Musk.
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META), Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google, TikTok, Reddit and X did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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