Berlin, Germany. Many Germans support the idea of restricting social media use for minors. However, implementing such measures is proving to be a complex endeavor.
In Germany, calls—from politicians as well as from parents and educators—for a ban on social media for children and adolescents are growing louder. The country is following a global trend toward restricting young people’s access to platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Australia is leading the way: since December 2025 children and adolescents under the age of 16 have been prohibited from holding their own accounts on major platforms. Spain, France, Denmark, Norway, Greece, and Turkey are also in the process of introducing legally binding restrictions for 14- to 16-year-olds. Against this backdrop, Karin Prien—the CDU Minister for Family Affairs—commissioned an expert committee on child and youth protection in the digital world in September 2025 to develop a scientific foundation for potential legislative measures. The committee is not expected to present concrete recommendations for action until late June. However, it did provide an interim assessment in April. The conclusion: There is no simple solution for providing better protection for minors on apps and the internet. Committee Chairman Olaf Köller argues that age restrictions—if implemented as a standalone measure—fall short of what is needed. Instead, a continuously evolving comprehensive strategy is required—one that incorporates, for instance, widespread media literacy education and preventive measures for children, adolescents, parents, and educators. Furthermore, the Scientific Services—which provide research support to members of the Bundestag—see little leeway for enforcing a complete ban on social media for minors, citing various provisions within both EU law and the German Basic Law. Therefore, proponents of a ban are calling on the EU Commission to present its own legislative proposal for regulations applicable across the entire EU.
Sources Heise, Netzpolitik, Tagesschau, and Deutsches Schulportal
Translation Paula Boslau
Image Robin Worrall
