Swiss Minister Open to Social Media Ban for Children

Switzerland’s interior minister said on Dec. 21 that she was open to introducing a ban on the use of social media by children, after Australia became the first country in the world to do so.

Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider told Swiss newspaper SonntagsBlick that her government was preparing a report and would discuss the issue in the new year.

“The debate in Australia and the EU is important. It must also be held in Switzerland,” Baume-Schneider said. “I am open to a social media ban. We must better protect our children.”

She listed options for what restrictions could be put in place, including a ban on children’s usage and addressing algorithms that “prey on the vulnerabilities of young people.”

“We mustn’t forget the social media platforms themselves: They must take responsibility for what children and teenagers consume,” Baume-Schneider said.

The Swiss public appears to support social media restrictions for children. A May poll from research institute Sotomo found that 80 percent of respondents favor a ban for children younger than age 16.

On Dec. 10, Australia became the first country to impose restrictions on minors using social media, with several other countries looking into similar legislation.

In November, Denmark said it was planning to ban anyone under the age of 15 from accessing social media. The proposal was initially raised by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in October during a speech at the opening of parliament, where she accused internet giants and mobile phone use of stealing children’s childhoods.

Elsewhere across Europe, France, Greece, Norway, and Spain have all taken steps toward introducing minimum age limits for social media use.

Malaysia said on Nov. 23 that it plans to ban social media accounts for children younger than age 16 next year.

Challenges to Australia’s Ban

From Dec. 10, Australians younger than age 16 have been banned from Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, and YouTube.

These platforms are expected to take “reasonable steps” to prevent those younger than age 16 from having or signing up for accounts. Failure to do so could result in fines for the tech companies of up to AUS$49.5 million (about $33 million).

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at the time that the measures will give children back their childhoods, as well as bring power back into the hands of parents and away from big tech companies.

The change has not come without opposition.

On Nov. 26, advocacy organization the Digital Freedom Project brought a legal challenge against the social media ban. The group call the law an “unfair and unreasonable trespass into free speech” that will rob 2.6 million young Australians of their access to the digital town square.

Days after the measure came into force, Reddit issued a legal challenge against the Australian government and Communications Minister Anika Wells, calling for the ban on the platform to be lifted.

Medical professionals have backed the restrictions, however, citing concerns over children’s mental health.

On the day the ban came into effect, Dr. Michael Wright, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said, “We know that children and young people are spending extensive time on social media, and this is restricting their sleep and impacting their overall wellbeing.”

The group also pointed to previous research that connected adolescent social media usage to bullying and anxiety, as well as exposure to harmful content.