(de-news.net) – Philipp Amthor (CDU), lawmaker and Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs, has expressed reservations about introducing a comprehensive ban on social media use by minors. While acknowledging that social networks are associated with considerable risks, he emphasized that they also function as arenas for democratic participation and public exchange. In his assessment, the practical feasibility of a blanket prohibition remains uncertain because key technical questions have yet to be resolved, including whether the age threshold of 16 is substantively justified and how age limits could be reliably determined, verified, and enforced in practice. Amthor further stressed that regulatory responses of this magnitude should not be pursued unilaterally by Germany but should instead be developed through close coordination at the European level in order to ensure consistency and effectiveness.
Comparable skepticism was articulated by Heidi Reichinnek, parliamentary leader of the Left Party, who argued that policy efforts should prioritize strengthening platform safety standards for users of all ages while systematically promoting media literacy among young people. She faulted the European Union for not yet obligating technology companies to provide transparency regarding their algorithms or to consistently remove illegal content. From her perspective, measures that focus exclusively on restricting young users risk oversimplifying complex structural problems inherent in digital platforms. She maintained that adolescents possess a legitimate right to participate in the online public sphere and that this right should be safeguarded rather than curtailed.
A general ban on social media use for children under 16 was also rejected by the German Child Protection Association on the occasion of Safer Internet Day. A member of the association’s board explained that children and adolescents should instead be empowered through guidance, supervision, and counseling to navigate digital environments responsibly. In the organization’s view, a blanket prohibition would be ineffective, given that social media platforms can also facilitate social interaction, self-expression, and personal development. The ambivalent nature of online spaces was similarly underscored by Federal Family Minister Karin Prien, who recognized both the significant opportunities and the substantial risks associated with digital platforms, while nonetheless indicating that age-based restrictions remain a conceivable policy option.
At the European level, the European Commission presented an action plan to combat cyberbullying in Strasbourg on Tuesday. The initiative seeks to reinforce existing safeguards under the Digital Services Act, improve mechanisms for verifying users’ ages, and enhance coordination among national approaches to addressing harmful online behavior. Preventive strategies are to be expanded in particular through training and information programs in schools. According to recent studies, nearly one in six children in the European Union between the ages of 11 and 15 report having experienced cyberbullying, while approximately one in eight acknowledge having engaged in such conduct themselves.
