Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) welcomed the discussion on age limits for social‑media use and called for tighter rules to be adopted this year. In a statement reported by the “Rheinische Post”, Hubig said the government must do more to protect children and teenagers in the digital world, stressing that protection cannot rely solely on teaching media literacy. “Real danger requires real safety measures” she added.
She pointed out that Germany already has clear age‑restriction guidelines for every pub and cinema, and that it is illogical to treat billion‑dollar platforms with manipulative algorithms less strictly than local cafés or event venues. According to Hubig, the debate is currently moving in the right direction. “There is now a broad awareness that social‑network use can have extremely harmful effects on young people” she said, and she called for a “tiered protection concept”. Different age groups, she explained, have distinct protection needs and varying interests in digital participation.
Looking ahead, Hubig said she expects the government‑commissioned expert panel to deliver concrete proposals soon. “By summer, once the commission’s findings are available, we should move to action” she warned. “Every additional year without clear protective measures could have serious consequences for the children and teenagers growing up today”.
