The CDU state association of Schleswig‑Holstein has submitted a motion to the CDU party conference calling for a ban on social‑media use for children under 16. The motion is supported by CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann. In the motion-reported by the “Bild” (Friday edition)-the association argues that a statutory minimum age of 16 for open platforms, accompanied by mandatory age verification, establishes a clear protection line and accounts for the specific developmental needs of young people.
The applicants justify the stringent rules as an effective safeguard for children and adolescents against the effects of hate, incitement, psychological pressure, bullying, and harmful online content. They explicitly name TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook as the target platforms. They point to the Australian model, where a social‑media ban exists for users under 16, as a potential template for similar legislation in Germany.
Carsten Linnemann, in an interview with the “Bild”, reiterated his support for the age restriction. He said, “I am for social media access only from age 16. Children have a right to childhood. We must protect them in the digital world from hate, violence, crime, and manipulative misinformation. In social networks they are exposed to content they cannot contextualise or process”. Linnemann warns of “devastating consequences”. He notes that children who spend a lot of time online increasingly suffer from depression and loneliness, and that their social skills decline. “Those who learn to socialize only online lose the ability to do so in real life” he explains.
Delegates will vote on the motion at the CDU party conference on February 20 and 21.