The SPD and the Jusos opposed measures that would ban social‑media usage for minors outright. Instead, they called for a stronger responsibility of the platform operators.
Juso chair Philipp Türmer told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that many young people see social media as a burden and that the platforms profit from it. “Risks and possible harms are taken on by the operators because attention brings profit” he explained. “That is why the Jusos expect a consistent approach to platform regulation”.
Türmer cited the dismissal of fact‑checkers at Facebook, the alleged abusive use of AI bots for “sexual digital violence” on Elon Musk’s X, and “opaque” algorithms at TikTok. He demanded that the European Digital Services Act be effectively enforced-with clear duties, tangible sanctions, and real transparency around algorithms and moderation. He also said that relying on a single measure is insufficient; alongside rigorous DSA implementation, there must be an expansion of digital education and accessible advisory and reporting structures.
The SPD’s federal parliamentary group also rejects a blanket ban on minors. “Social platforms can be addictive and contribute to radicalisation” said SPD policy spokesperson Carmen Wegge. She argued that blanket bans or a requirement for real names miss the core problem. “We need to hold the platforms accountable and empower consumers” Wegge added, describing a right for users to decide what the algorithm shows them. “And we need media literacy not just for young people, but for all age groups”.
The federal government has already established an expert commission on child and youth protection in the digital world to produce recommendations by summer. Earlier this year, a debate within the CDU also started on banning children from social media. The CDU state association in Schleswig‑Holstein submitted a proposal for the party conference demanding a legal minimum age of 16 for open platforms with mandatory age verification. The state’s prime minister, Daniel Günther (CDU), and federal drug commissioner Hendrik Streeck (CDU) had already advocated various protective measures.
