Overview

• Kinderschutzbund and the Social Association of Germany oppose blanket minimum ages for TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, urging safe online spaces, age‑appropriate design and mandatory media education.
• Hendrik Streeck, the federal addiction commissioner, had urged strictly tiered age thresholds with effective verification to curb what he calls widespread behavioral addiction among minors.
• Streeck cites average daily use of about four hours on social networks plus two hours each for gaming and streaming, and notes that 42% of 10‑ to 11‑year‑olds have a TikTok account.
• The Family Ministry has commissioned an expert panel on child and youth protection in the digital world, with stricter platform rules under review.
• The advocacy group Aktiv gegen Mediensucht sees therapeutic value in graded age rules but stresses the need for clear legislation and a dedicated school subject on media literacy.