Better Internet for Kids

Here, we take an in-depth look at the latest monitoring information for Austria.

According to the Digital Decade 2025: Country reports, Austria’s digital landscape in 2025 is defined by high individual capability with some structural infrastructure gaps. Significant progress has been made in mobile connectivity, with 99.5% 5G coverage and a strong lead in AI adoption at 20.3%. Austria maintains a strong profile in digital skills; 64.7% of its population possesses at least basic digital skills, surpassing the EU average. To address persistent disparities in digital inclusion across gender and age, the government has launched flagship initiatives such as Digital Everywhere+ and the Future Skills programme. According to the State of the Digital Decade Eurobarometer 2025, public sentiment remains supportive, with 68% of citizens reporting that digitalisation simplifies daily life, though there is a strong demand for enhanced cybersecurity (78%) and better mitigation of online disinformation (87%). 93% believe it is important that action is needed to protect against the negative impact of social media on children’s mental health, while 92% support putting in place age assurance mechanisms to restrict age-inappropriate content.

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on key national policy frameworks in Austria.

Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.

BIK policies

This concerns how national-level policies relevant to the BIK agenda are organised, managed, and supported by evidence and stakeholder input.

Policy frameworks

Policy frameworks describe the overarching goals that shape policies for a better internet for kids. 

In Austria: 

• This topic is an important and emerging policy priority partially covered in national/regional laws, regulations and policies.
• The topic of children and the digital environment is covered by broader policies rather than in separate dedicated policies.
• The BIK+ strategy is an important influence on policy development on children and the digital environment.
• National/regional policies and policy documents do not refer to children's rights in the digital environment.

Policy design

Policy design asks whether evidence and research support BIK-related policies and whether systems are in place for monitoring and evaluating those policies.

• Quantitative data on some aspects of children’s digital activity is collected regularly as part of broader surveys.
• Some but not all aspects of children’s experiences of risks, harms and digital well-being are included in regular surveys.
• Systems are in place at the government level to gather information on children and the digital environment.
• There are occasional special initiatives to gather evidence about children and the digital environment. 
• Policies are regularly monitored and evaluated, but not always systematically.

Policy governance

Policy governance examines how policies are coordinated at the governmental level, whether other implementation bodies are involved in their delivery and coordination.

• The lead ministry, public agency, or regulatory authority operates on an informal, ad hoc basis, depending on the requirements at any given time.
• Coordination occurs across relevant departments and stakeholders through more informal arrangements.
• Government policy has yet to be developed into an implementable action plan at this point, but this is under development.

Stakeholder involvement

Stakeholder involvement enquires how different stakeholders can participate in policy development. 

In Austria:

• Stakeholders are involved through various existing groups or platforms across different government branches. While opportunities for engagement exist, they are not centrally coordinated, and stakeholder participation may vary in consistency or influence.
• Public consultation occurs, but it is irregular, infrequent, or limited in scope.
• Children are listened to directly in the policy development process but are not formally involved in decision-making.
  

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on key national policy frameworks in Austria.

Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.

BIK+ actions

Pillar 1 – safe digital experiences

Safe digital experiences refer to actions taken to protect children from harmful and illegal online content, conduct, contact, and risks as young consumers and to improve their well-being online through a safe, age-appropriate digital environment created in a way that respects children’s best interests.

Pillar 2 – digital empowerment

Digital empowerment involves actions that ensure all children, including those in vulnerable situations, acquire the necessary skills and competences to make sound choices and to express themselves safely and responsibly in the online environment.

Pillar 3 – active participation, respecting children’s rights

This includes actions that promote young people's active participation and respect for their rights through such activities as fostering innovative and creative safe digital experiences for young people and ensuring they have a say in policies governing the digital environment.

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on key national policy frameworks in Austria.

Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.

BIK+ index 2026: Austria

The BIK+ index has been developed to provide an aggregated at-a-glance overview of the levels of implementation across the two dimensions, BIK policies and BIK+ actions, in Austria compared to the EU27+2 average. Values are shown in per cent.

Please note, the data used in this page and the corresponding country profile was collected in January 2026.