Heidi Reichinnek, the Green parliamentary group leader, said she does not favor a blanket ban on social media for users under 16. “I personally am not a fan of putting this ban to 16” she told the TV channel ntv on Monday. Reichinnek argued that teens are “very clever” and can easily circumvent such a restriction. She sees technical age checks that rely on ID data as problematic, since users would have to disclose personal information. Instead of a short debate on outright bans, she calls for a broader discussion about the power wielded by major platforms.
Reichinnek cited European directives such as the Digital Services Act, insisting that it must be implemented sensibly, for example with higher penalties. She stressed that media literacy is essential not only for children and teenagers but for society at large, and that increased youth work is needed. “It will cost money, but we have to talk about this in the discussion” she added.
In the CDU, a minimum age for open platforms is still being debated. Parliamentary State Secretary Philipp Amthor explained that the party’s application commission had already examined this proposal and is sending it forward for further discussion. He said it is correct to address the issue within the framework of child and youth protection. Social networks, he noted, can serve as a democratic communication tool, but they also have clearly negative aspects.
Amthor cautions against hasty decisions about the appropriate age limit. Whether 16 is the right threshold remains open, and European approaches differ. Technical hurdles exist, as a simple “I click here” verification does not resolve the underlying problems. The discussion should focus first on protecting children and youth, rather than on censorship or restrictions of free expression.