The Union faction in the Bundestag continues to advocate for a national age restriction for young people using social media. According to faction vice-president Anja Weisgerber of the CSU, the proposal by a European expert committee underscores the urgent need for stronger child protection online. Therefore, they are pushing for a risk-based protection concept for children aged 13 to 16, tailored to the specific dangers presented by various social platforms or similar services.
While praising the direction taken by the EU expert commission, Weisgerber noted that a European regulation would likely be the best way to establish uniform standards for protecting children and youth in the digital space. However, she added that the legislative process involving 27 member states would take time, and the substantive proposals of the EU would require careful review. Nevertheless, Weisgerber stated that they are simultaneously pushing a national regulation forward with the Federal Minister of Family Affairs and the coalition partner. This dual approach, she explained, will allow them to accelerate online child protection while constructively shaping the European legislative process.
This discussion follows a recent report submitted by an expert commission led by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which included recommendations for protecting children and adolescents on social media. These experts recommended a minimum user age of 13.
This EU suggestion met strong criticism from Die Linke. Nicole Gohlke, the party’s spokesperson for educational policy, told the “Rheinische Post” that pressuring children away from the internet is “not a protection policy.” She contended that mandatory age verifications severely encroach upon fundamental rights, raise significant data protection concerns, potentially create new dependencies on identity infrastructures, and fundamentally fail to solve the structural problems. Instead, Gohlke insisted on more consistent regulations for the platforms themselves, arguing that social media must operate without addiction-fueling algorithms, personalized feeds, or infinite scrolling.
The Greens also demand legally binding rules for tech companies. Denise Loop, the party’s spokesperson for youth policy, warned that those serious about effectively protecting children and youth must change the platforms themselves. She argued that functions promoting addiction must be disabled by default, protective mechanisms must be activated, and all AI-generated content must be clearly labeled.
