Youth researcher Simon Schnetzer is calling for a social media ban in Germany for individuals under the age of 16, following the example of Australia. In an interview with the news portal Watson, he stated that “especially young women and people with strong psychological burdens strongly advocate for such a ban.” Approximately half of all young people are in favor of such a restriction, according to his current trend study, “Youth in Germany 2025” which will be released on May 20th. “They see social media in their younger years not as an opportunity, but as a burden on their lives.”
Schnetzer’s workshops have increasingly reported that young people experience bullying, sleep deprivation and addictive behavior as a result of their social media use. It is the responsibility of parents, politicians and platform operators to protect children from this, he said. “Many young people are disappearing into other worlds, pressures and addictions” Schnetzer stated. The blame lies with social media platforms that prioritize profit: “The logic of the platforms promotes addiction and consumption – anyone who tells themselves otherwise is living in a dream.