Czechia is the latest European nation to consider a social media ban for minors, after Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said that online platforms pose serious risks to young people’s mental health and called for stronger protections.
In a video posted on social media, the ANO leader said he supported introducing restrictions similar to measures being adopted in other countries, including France and Spain.
“I’m in favor because the experts I know say it’s terribly harmful to children. We have to protect our children,” Babiš said.
Deputy Prime Minister and ANO deputy chairman Karel Havlíček later confirmed that the government is weighing up such a move and could introduce legislation this year if agreement is reached. In a televised debate, Havlíček said consultations are underway with specialists and platform operators, adding that social networks are having a destructive effect on many children’s lives.
Debate over how such a ban could work in practice remains active. ODS MEP Alexandr Vondra said he understood the motivation behind the proposal but warned implementation must avoid undermining privacy rights. “On the one hand, I really understand it. On the other hand, how to do it in a way that does not compromise the fundamental right to privacy,” he said during the television debate, as cited by CT24.
The proposal comes as several countries move toward stricter rules on children’s access to social media. Australia introduced a ban last December, preventing under-16s from accessing major platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, X, and YouTube, with companies facing heavy fines if they fail to enforce age limits.
France has also passed legislation in its lower house banning social media use for children under 15, with implementation planned later this year, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for similar measures earlier this month.
At the EU level, members of the European Parliament have also called for stricter age controls, proposing that children under 16 should not access social media, video-sharing services, or AI chatbots without parental consent.
The Czech Republic already requires parental consent for children under 15 to use social networks, but enforcement remains weak, noted Zdravotnicky Denik. Experts say stricter controls would require stronger identity verification tools, such as bank-based digital identification or future European digital identity systems, though children may still find ways to circumvent restrictions.
