In the midst of discussions about banning social‑media access for users under 16, the German child‑protection association is urging authorities to enforce existing laws instead of introducing a blanket prohibition.
Sabine Andresen, president of the association, told the “Rheinische Post” on Tuesday that “it is time to enforce current legislation before attempting to exclude young people outright”.
Andresen argues that a ban would not ease the complex risks children face online. “Minors will find ways to bypass systems and will discover other platforms to meet and exchange” she said. She pointed out that measures already exist-such as age‑tiered unlocking of certain features and low‑threshold reporting mechanisms for problematic content-but that platforms are simply not implementing them.
The president called for a stronger role for platforms in protecting children. “Without reliable age‑verification systems, a ban would just give operators a licence to abandon all child‑protection efforts” she warned.
