Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has spoken out for the first time in favor of a social media ban for under-15s. “I’m for it,” the billionaire said in a video on Facebook on Sunday. Experts have told him that social media is “terribly harmful” for children. “We have to protect our children,” demanded the 71-year-old. Other countries are also currently considering a ban.
Minister: Children should do sports instead
According to Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček, the cabinet aims to make a decision by the end of the year at the latest. Sports Minister Boris Šťastný wrote on the X platform that children should rather do sports and go to the playground than sit in front of their cell phones or computers. A coalition consisting of Babiš’s right-wing populist ANO and two parties on the right-wing fringe has been in power in the Czech Republic since December. Critics warned of restrictions on fundamental rights and a threat to privacy.
Age limits for social networks have been hotly debated recently. Australia is the pioneer. Since 2025, children and young people under the age of 16 will no longer be allowed to have their own social media accounts. The aim is to protect young people from risks such as cyberbullying, problematic consumption and stressful content. The French National Assembly recently voted to ban the use of social networks by children and young people under the age of 15. The bill still has to be voted on in the Senate, the second chamber of parliament. The Austrian federal government is also planning a social media ban for those under 14.
date: 2026-02-08 16:22:00
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