Slovakia approves social media ban for children under 16

social media ban child protection age verification Slovakia legislation digital safety

The Slovak government has approved a series of legislative proposals aimed at protecting minors and reforming social welfare. A central component of this package is a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16. The proposal seeks to prevent addiction, social pressure, and radicalization by prohibiting the creation of accounts for this age group and requiring platforms to implement age verification systems using European digital identity frameworks.

Education Minister Tomáš Drucker emphasized that the measure is intended to protect children from sophisticated algorithms that can lead to mental health issues and harmful content. The age verification process is designed to confirm eligibility without exposing additional personal data to the platforms.

Additionally, the government approved changes to child benefits. While the monthly amount remains at 60 euros, the eligibility age for dependent children will be extended from 25 to 26 years to support those in longer educational programs. The package also includes stricter measures to combat truancy and prevent the abuse of foster care systems, with the ability to redirect benefits to local municipalities if parents fail to ensure school attendance.

Entities

Matúš Šutaj Eštok · Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport · Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization · National Council of the Slovak Republic · Robert Fico · Slovak government · Tomáš Drucker

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Age verification must be conducted using tools within the European Union's digital identity framework. www.economx.hu · 24.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] The proposal is part of an integrated protection system to prevent radicalization and the incitement of violence. www.economx.hu · 24.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] Age verification processes must not allow platforms to access other personal data of the user. www.economx.hu · 24.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] The age restriction could take effect as early as next year, pending legislative approval. www.economx.hu · 24.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] The Slovak government approved a bill to ban social media profile creation for those under 16. www.economx.hu · 24.hu