Berlin, February 15 – Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has put forward a groundbreaking proposal to ban children under the age of 14 from using social media platforms. The initiative, detailed in a policy paper, also outlines a tiered system for regulating social media access based on age, with mandatory age verification through the ‘EUDI-Wallet’ app.
Three-Tiered Approach to Social Media Regulation
The core of the SPD’s proposal is a three-stage regulatory framework:
- Under 14s: Complete Ban: Children under 14 would be entirely prohibited from using social media. Platforms would be legally obliged to “technically prevent access” for this age group. Violations by platforms would lead to “immediate orders and severe sanctions, including temporary restrictions or network blocks as a last resort.”
- Under 16s: Mandatory ‘Youth Versions’: For users under 16, platforms would be required to offer a “youth version.” These versions would be stripped of features designed to induce addiction, such as endless scrolling, automatic content playback, or reward systems for intensive use. Furthermore, these youth versions would operate without algorithmically controlled feeds and would not personalize content. Access for this group would exclusively be through their parents’ or guardians’ ‘EUDI-Wallet’ app. The EUDI-Wallet (EU Digital Identity Wallet) is a digital wallet designed to store official documents like ID cards and driver’s licenses.
- Over 16s: Opt-in for Algorithmic Feeds: For all citizens aged 16 and above, including adults, algorithmic recommendation systems would be deactivated by default on digital platforms. Users wishing to receive algorithmically suggested content would have to actively and consciously opt-in. This age group would also need to verify their age using the ‘EUDI-Wallet’ before using platforms.
“Return to Classic Social Media Principle”
Beyond age restrictions, the SPD views its proposal as a broader “return to the classic social media principle.” The party argues that social media users should once again be able to decide for themselves what content they see. The default setting on platforms should revert to users only seeing content from individuals and accounts they actively follow, rather than automatically curated feeds that covertly prioritize and algorithmically amplify certain content.
SPD leader and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil emphasized in an interview with the German Press Agency that he has had a change of heart on the issue. “A few years ago, we all emphasized the freedom of the internet and said there should be no restrictions whatsoever. But now we see in the debates that something is happening socially, that young people come to me and say we need clear rules on how to deal with social networks,” Klingbeil stated. “We need restrictions when it comes to how we deal with social media, with the internet, and we must make decisions now.”
Support from CDU and International Precedents
The proposal has garnered support from other political parties, with voices from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) also favoring stricter social media regulation. Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) has personally expressed openness to a ban up to a certain age. The CDU is expected to discuss the topic at its party conference this coming weekend.
Internationally, several countries, including Denmark, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain, are considering following Australia’s lead. Two months ago, Australia became the first country in the world to implement a general social media ban for under 16s, prohibiting children from having their own social media accounts.
The SPD’s proposal marks a significant step in the ongoing debate about the impact of social media on young people and the need for greater regulation in the digital sphere.
Source: https://www.radioherford.de/nachrichten/news-aus-nrw-und-der-welt/berlin-spd-will-social-media-verbot-fuer-kinder-unter-14.html
