(de-news.net) – Mario Voigt (CDU), Minister-President of Thuringia, has called for a nationwide ban on smartphones for children under the age of 14, presenting it as part of a broader strategy to safeguard minors in the digital environment. He cited alarming statistics indicating that one in five children between ten and fourteen had been approached online by strangers requesting nude images, while also facing exposure to violent or pornographic material on social media platforms. Voigt argued that the state bears a fundamental responsibility to protect children from such online risks, stressing that digital safeguarding is critical not only for healthy developmental trajectories but also for the long-term stability and integrity of democratic society.

Voigt drew explicit parallels between digital restrictions and existing age limits on substances such as alcohol and tobacco, contending that similar protective measures are essential in the online sphere. He highlighted that children today carry devices that function simultaneously as communication tools, shopping platforms, and entertainment systems, which can impose psychological pressure and overstimulation during sensitive phases of cognitive and emotional development. He maintained that exposing children to uncontrolled digital content under the guise of personal freedom constitutes negligence rather than liberty. To mitigate these risks, he advocated for enforceable platform obligations, strict age limitations, and reliable age-verification mechanisms as essential components of a coherent protective framework.

In pursuit of practical regulatory measures, Voigt noted that Thuringia has initiated a federal-level proposal through the Bundesrat and is engaging with expert committees and Federal Minister Karin Prien to develop workable standards. The stated objective of this initiative is to ensure that children and adolescents can grow up with consistent protections, free from continuous evaluation, excessive digital demands, and the stress associated with constant online exposure. By establishing these safeguards, Voigt contended, the state would fulfill its dual role as both guardian of order and protector of the most vulnerable members of society, offering a structured approach to nurturing healthy and resilient youth in an increasingly digitalized world.