German Minister Proposes Social Media Age Limit of 14

Niedersachsen's education minister calls for regulations inspired by Australia's model to protect children from harmful online content.

Niedersachsen's Education Minister Julia Willie Hamburg advocates for a legal minimum age of 14 for social media use in Germany, citing potential harm to younger children.
The proposal aims to enhance media literacy in schools and help parents guide children before they encounter issues like fake news, violence, or cyberbullying.
Australia recently enacted a law restricting social media access to individuals aged 16 and older, with enforcement responsibilities placed on tech companies.
Other German officials, including Thüringen's education minister and Niedersachsen's social minister, support discussions on implementing similar age limits, emphasizing EU-level coordination.
Concerns were raised about the broader impact of social media, including the spread of disinformation and its threat to democratic discourse, with calls for stricter regulation of algorithms and platform accountability.