Following Australia’s lead, Poland is now gearing up to implement a ban on minors under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. The largest party in Poland’s ruling Civic Coalition Party is currently working on a bill that would enforce this restriction and require tech companies to verify users’ ages.
Education Minister Barbara Nowacka presented the plan, which includes imposing fines amounting to 6% of the worldwide revenue of social media companies if they continue to allow access to under-15s.
“We need to restrict social media access for children under 15 while also focusing on mental health awareness for children, parents, and the broader Polish society,” Nowacka stated.
If the bill is fast-tracked through legislation, it could go into effect as early as 2027. However, the coalition has not yet given full approval, and it is expected to face legal challenges from US tech giants.
Other countries in the European Union, including France, Denmark, Slovenia, and Spain, are also considering similar bans or restrictions due to concerns about children’s mental health.
In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently proposed measures to protect young people from social media addiction, including a potential ban on under-16s, pending public consultation.
Privacy and free speech advocates caution against such bans, arguing that they could lead to widespread age verification requirements on social media platforms, compromising users’ privacy and freedom of expression.
Rachel Roberts and Reuters contributed to this report.
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