Austria will prohibit the use of social media in children under 14 years of age, based on an agreement reached after long negotiations within the government coalition between the left, right and liberals, the government announced today.

“It is almost impossible for parents to control the time their children spend” on these platforms, which are designed to make them “knowingly addicted,” Social Democrat Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler said at a news conference.

The government plans to introduce a new compulsory course in school curricula called “Media and Democracy,” which aims to help students distinguish between reality and fiction and recognize undemocratic attempts at influence, according to a draft law expected to be tabled by June.

Several European Union countries, including France, Spain and Denmark, have already announced their intention to impose age limits on social media use, while others are considering doing so.