Overview

• On ARD’s Hart aber fair, podcaster Levi Penell proposed publicly debating whether people aged 60 and over should be barred from platforms like TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.
• Penell cited research showing many teens can identify misinformation and argued younger users often spot AI-generated content more reliably than older adults.
• The studio audience applauded the suggestion, and Penell stressed it was a deliberate provocation rather than a concrete policy demand.
• Journalist Petra Gerster opposed exclusions and called for targeted education for seniors, noting that social media can help prevent isolation in later life.
• Lawyer Chan-jo Jun said platforms already have the tools to keep minors out but lack incentives to use them, while former family minister Kristina Schröder rejected blanket under‑16 bans and favored parental choice.