The SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag intends to press for a ban on social media for certain age groups, even though the experts commission has offered alternative recommendations regarding youth protection online. Johannes Schätzl, the party’s spokesperson on digital policy, told the newspapers of Mediengruppe Bayern that while they take the commission’s advice seriously, they are prioritizing protection more heavily when platforms fail to adequately meet their responsibilities. Schätzl noted that the commission deliberately left several options open. He also mentioned that the party largely supported the initial policy paper, “Safe Social Media,” which called for limiting social media use by young people.
Schätzl elaborated that this commitment means the party continues to advocate for legally binding measures. These measures include age-gated access rules, specifically a ban on using social media platforms for children under the age of 14, reliable and data-compliant age verification systems, genuine freedom of choice concerning algorithmic recommendation systems, clear limitations on addictive designs, and improved media literacy for children, teenagers, parents, and schools.
The spokesperson stressed that platforms must be designed safely because many providers operate on business models that focus on capturing attention, extending usage time, and constantly pulling young people back onto their platforms. Schätzl concluded that whoever operates such systems must also accept legal boundaries.
