(Gemini Audio)
(de-news.net) – The German federal government has commissioned a specialized expert group to evaluate the feasibility and implications of introducing a statutory minimum age for the use of social media platforms. This initiative stems from the administration’s recognition of the need for a robust, evidence-based framework to support any prospective regulatory measures in this domain. In its official response to a parliamentary inquiry, the government stated that the appointed commission, titled “Child and Youth Protection in the Digital World,” would be tasked with examining age-related access restrictions and formulating recommendations to mitigate exposure to potentially harmful platform functionalities. These include features such as autoplay mechanisms and infinite scrolling, which are widely regarded as contributing to compulsive usage patterns among minors. The proposed interventions are understood to align with the broader objectives of the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which seeks to enhance user safety and accountability across digital environments.
Concurrently, the deteriorating state of mental health among young people in Germany has emerged as a pressing concern, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from the COPSY study conducted by the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf revealed that by the end of 2024, nearly one in five adolescents in Germany exhibited symptoms of psychological distress—a marked increase compared to pre-pandemic baselines. In light of these findings, the federal government has publicly affirmed its commitment to prioritizing youth mental health and is currently in the process of developing a comprehensive national strategy. This plan is expected to yield concrete policy measures by 2026, with the overarching aim of improving mental health outcomes and fostering resilience among children and adolescents.
Despite these declarations, critics have voiced concerns regarding the pace and scope of governmental action. Anja Reinalter, the education policy spokesperson for the Green Party, has argued that mental health must be elevated to a central political priority. She has called for the expansion of the ‘Startchancen’ program, emphasizing the need to bolster staffing levels in school-based social work and psychological services. Reinalter has also criticized the composition of the newly established expert commission, noting the absence of youth representatives and advocating for the direct involvement of young people in policymaking processes that affect their lives. She contends that inclusive participation is essential to ensure that decisions are responsive to the lived experiences of the younger population.
Public sentiment appears to favor more stringent regulatory measures concerning youth access to digital technologies. A study conducted by the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) found that a majority of respondents supported the establishment of a minimum age of 14 for social media usage and 12 for smartphone ownership. The survey further demonstrated that participants’ attitudes were significantly influenced by the nature of information presented to them: exposure to risks such as cyberbullying and inappropriate content tended to raise the preferred age thresholds, whereas information highlighting potential benefits of digital engagement led to a reduction in those thresholds. In addition to age-based restrictions, respondents expressed strong support for banning smartphones in primary schools and curbing their use during instructional time. They also called for enhanced media literacy education within the school curriculum and urged both policymakers and platform providers to assume greater responsibility in safeguarding young users. The BiB study was based on a nationally representative sample of 1,312 German citizens aged 18 and older.
Further insights into familial dynamics surrounding smartphone use were provided by a separate survey conducted by Bitkom Research. According to the findings, 74 percent of parents whose children were permitted to use smartphones reported experiencing conflicts over usage patterns. These disputes were most prevalent among parents of children aged 10 to 12, with 88 percent indicating frequent disagreements. Moreover, 14 percent of surveyed parents believed their child exhibited signs of smartphone dependency, with the perceived prevalence of addiction increasing in correlation with the child’s age. Disciplinary measures were also common, with nearly half of parents resorting to temporary bans on device usage as a form of behavioral correction. The Bitkom study drew on telephone interviews with 1,004 parents of children aged 6 to 18, including 796 whose children were granted access to smartphones.
