Overview

• Thuringia’s Minister-President Mario Voigt argues social media should carry a legal minimum age of 16 to shield adolescents from proven mental health harms.
• Voigt plans to ban smartphone use in primary school classes to prevent distractions and limit children’s exposure during lessons.
• He cited a recent study showing one in four children already experience anxiety linked to social media and face unwelcome content such as violence and pornography.
• Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig, Education Minister Karin Prien and Schleswig-Holstein Premier Daniel Günther have also called for similar age restrictions, reflecting cross-party support.
• A YouGov survey found that 70 percent of Germans favor a minimum age for social media access, with 57 percent specifically backing a threshold of 16 years.