Switzerland Considers Tougher Social Media Curbs to Protect Children
Switzerland may need to adopt stricter measures to protect children from the risks of social media use, Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider has said, raising the possibility of restrictions similar to those recently introduced in Australia.
Speaking to SonntagsBlick on Sunday, the centre-left Social Democratic Party minister said the debate unfolding in Australia and the European Union is also highly relevant for Switzerland. Following Australia’s move to ban social media use for children under 16, she noted that similar steps could be considered in Switzerland to better safeguard young users, according to Reuters.
Baume-Schneider said authorities would examine what form such restrictions might take, including a complete ban for children, tighter controls on harmful content, or limits on algorithms that exploit the vulnerabilities of young people. Detailed discussions on the issue are expected to begin in the new year.
She also stressed that social media platforms must take responsibility for the content viewed by children and adolescents, rather than shifting the burden entirely onto families or schools.
It is worth noting that Switzerland’s Fribourg canton recently banned mobile phone use in schools for students up to around 15 years of age, reflecting growing concern over the impact of digital platforms on young people.
DBTech/BMT/OR
