After German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) voiced a call to ban social‑media platforms for children, the deputy chair of the Green parliamentary group, Andreas Audretsch, urged a more nuanced debate.
He told RTL and ntv that the question whether we should impose a ban on users aged 14 or 16, or set even stricter conditions-such as prohibiting addictive algorithms-must be discussed. The Greens want to bring young people into the conversation, saying they will convene a youth forum to examine the issue “with teens themselves” and determine the best approach.
In outlining how to implement these ideas, Audretsch described a two‑fold strategy. On one hand, he stresses the need for hard requirements and clear legal rules. On the other hand, he emphasizes media literacy and education, arguing that people-especially young people-should learn how to navigate social‑media platforms and the content they encounter.