A German government-appointed expert panel has recommended banning children under 13 from using social media independently.
The commission, delivering 56 recommendations to the family ministry, proposes a legal age limit of 13, with tiered safety standards for teens aged 13-16 and 16-18. Parents would also be required to prevent “digital neglect.”
Minister for Family Affairs Karin Prien endorsed the proposal, calling the age limit “the right way forward.”
The move mirrors actions in Australia, France, Canada, and the UK, where similar bans have been enacted or proposed. Germany’s ruling coalition and Social Democrats strongly support access restrictions, citing threats from fake news, AI-generated content, violence, and radicalization of youth.