AfD and the Left oppose a ban on social media for children and teenagers under 16-a measure that some members of the CDU are urging.
AfD leader Alice Weidel told the portal T‑Online that the proposal is “wrong and dangerous”. She argues that teaching kids how to use media responsibly is part of parents’ duty and that it is far more effective-and more targeted-than a blanket state ban on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and similar services.
In a similar vein, Left party faction leader Heidi Reichinnek said to T‑Online that instead of outright prohibition, the focus should be on imparting media literacy to young people and on making social media safer for everyone, including adults. She noted that the EU has yet to compel tech giants to disclose algorithms or routinely remove illegal content. Reichinnek warned that politicians who have no alternative solutions simply choose a ban, and that young people have a right to participate in the digital space.