Karin Prien, the Minister for Families and Education from the CDU, views society’s handling of digital media as negligent. Speaking to the newspapers of the Mediengruppe Bayern, the CDU politician stated that “in reality, we are involved in a great human experiment.”
Prien noted that for nearly two decades, society has used smartphones-a rapidly evolving technology-without performing a risk assessment. She pointed out that concepts like product liability or the precautionary principle are usually applied to potentially hazardous technologies, but this has not been done in the domain of digital media. “We let the development take its own course,” she observed. Furthermore, she highlighted Germany’s unique position in Europe, calling the country the only major economic and social area with no established regulatory approaches whatsoever. In summary, she admitted, “I believe we were too naive.”
Regarding the recommended age for children to access digital devices, Prien advised that children should use no screens at all between the ages of zero and three. She emphasized that this applies not just to children, but also to adults who use screens while spending time with their young children. While she recognized that adults cannot be legally prohibited from using devices, she suggested that this area could be addressed through recommendations and social norms.
The minister stressed that the damage caused to children-stemming from parents lacking eye contact or failing to maintain intensive verbal communication with their toddlers-is “dramatic.” She concluded by stating that excessive screen consumption is as harmful as smoking or consuming alcohol during pregnancy.
