The debate surrounding the regulation of social media usage among minors is intensifying in Germany, following Australia’s recent ban on TikTok for users under 16. Leading politicians are now advocating for similar measures, raising serious questions about the responsibility of policymakers in protecting children from potential harm.
Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister President Daniel Günther of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) voiced strong concerns in an interview with “Bild”, asserting that inaction regarding the pervasive influence of platforms like TikTok endangers the future of younger generations. Günther declared a commitment to championing a future where individuals under 16 are shielded from social media’s reach, criticizing the prolonged neglect of the negative impacts experienced by children and adolescents. He specifically highlighted TikTok’s tendency to expose minors to content deemed inappropriate for their age group.
Echoing Günther’s sentiment, Franziska Brantner, co-chairwoman of the Green Party, also supports the imposition of an age restriction for social media usage. Brantner underscored the necessity of holding digital platforms accountable and suggested mandatory adoption of “search- and manipulation-free algorithms” to mitigate the addictive and potentially damaging nature of these services. She accused many platforms of deliberately engineering addictive qualities to ensnare young users.
Currently, Germany’s terms of service for platforms like Instagram and Facebook stipulate a minimum age of 13. However, effective age verification has proven largely absent, creating a loophole that allows younger users to access these services unchecked. Critics are now demanding a more robust and legally enforceable framework, alongside stricter enforcement and data privacy safeguards, to ensure meaningful protection for Germany’s youth. The growing political pressure signals a potential shift in policy, but whether these calls translate into concrete legislation remains to be seen, sparking wider discussions about the power and responsibility of technology companies in shaping the development of future generations.
