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2h ago

Union Weighs 16+ Social Media Age Limit as Youth Safety Debate Intensifies

No decision has been made as party figures split over restrictions and experts assess enforceability and age‑verification options.

Jemand hält ein Smartphone, auf dessen Display verschiedene Social Media Apps angezeigt werden
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Jugendliche halten Smartphones in den Händen.
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Overview

  • Union parliamentary leader Jens Spahn said a legal minimum age of 16 for platforms like TikTok and Instagram is under discussion, framing it as a youth protection measure.
  • Spahn cited neuroscientists in comparing apps’ reward effects to heroin and argued that, as with alcohol and nicotine, limits could safeguard developing brains.
  • Positions diverge within federal politics, with CSU leader Markus Söder rejecting an age limit, CDU’s Thorsten Frei warning of enforcement challenges, and Green leader Franziska Brantner backing a ban for under‑16s.
  • Thuringia’s Minister‑President Mario Voigt endorsed tighter rules and referenced reports that about one in five 10‑ to 14‑year‑olds had been solicited for nude images via fake accounts.
  • An expert commission is reviewing risks on major platforms as some states tighten school smartphone rules, and a televised debate featured a provocative call to consider excluding over‑60s from social media.