Kerstin Paschke, a child and adolescent psychologist, is calling for immediate regulation of major social media platforms-including TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Snapchat-in Germany. Speaking to the “Spiegel” she criticized political bodies for their delay in restricting child and adolescent access to these services, stating that debating the associated health risks is long overdue. She expressed surprise that such a discussion was not initiated ten years ago, arguing that much of what is happening today could have been anticipated.
A specialist in problematic media consumption and head of the German Center for Addictions for Children and Youth at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Paschke is actively treating children who suffer from social media addiction. Based on her expertise, she recommends strict age limitations: children under 13 should generally not use commercial social platforms independently, and the content consumed by those aged 14 to 15 must be carefully vetted for appropriateness.
Data from the DAK-Gesundheit media addiction study highlights the scale of the issue. On weekdays, adolescents average 2 hours and 26 minutes of daily usage, increasing to 3 hours and 21 minutes on weekends. Crucially, the proportion of 10- to 17-year-olds exhibiting pathological usage behavior has more than doubled since 2019, rising from 3.2% to 6.6%; consequently, over one-fifth of youth surveyed demonstrate risky digital habits.
Paschke noted that children with problematic media use often mimic their parents’ behavior. She points out that when parents turn to their phones out of boredom, stress, or distraction, it increases the likelihood that children will also use media to regulate their emotions, rather than discussing what moves them with their family. She added that studies show that in many households, children can use media indefinitely, a situation she described as profoundly worrying. Furthermore, she observed that parents often underestimate the severity of the situation, frequently reporting that they simply acclimatized to the status quo.
Moving forward, Paschke advises setting clear boundaries for children and providing structured guidance. She stressed that the development of addiction is also dependent on parents being proactively questioning and capable of taking a strong, clear stand in support of their child’s healthy development.
