Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU) cautioned against a quick ban on social‑media use for minors during a debate. While early results from Australia appear promising, he said, “We should examine them closely before making a decision”. He explained that an expert commission, convened by Minister for Youth Karin Prien (CDU), will submit a proposal by summer, urging patience.
A month ago the CDU party conference urged the federal government to enact a statutory age limit of 14 for platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. State CDU premiers Hendrik Wüst of North Rhine‑Westphalia and Daniel Günther of Schleswig‑Holstein are pushing for swift implementation.
Wildberger said he supports an age threshold for social media, perhaps as a transitional measure. “I am strongly against narrowing the discussion to a blanket ban” he told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. The state has a duty of care to help young people grow healthy. That can ultimately be achieved through regulation-tight rules and standard settings on platforms or smartphones. But if those technical options are unusable, “an age restriction may be appropriate as a bridge”.
He noted the issue is multi‑dimensional. “If parents are constantly on their phones at home, children will barely learn to use social media responsibly. Parenting is part of that, and a ban cannot replace it”. Yet, “in weighing the options, an age limit can serve as a path. We must also send a clear signal that protecting young people is a priority for us”.