New rules are being prepared in Germany regarding the use of social media by children and teenagers, which include a complete ban for users under 14 and limited access for those aged 14–16. This is reported by Bloomberg.
The Social Democratic Party proposes to ban the use of social media by children under 14, and for teenagers aged 14–16 to introduce a special mode of access only to relevant content. The initiative aims to create a safe digital environment without algorithms that can be addictive, spread misinformation or violent material.
The planned changes will also apply to adult users. In particular, recommendation algorithms on adult platforms should only be activated upon direct request from the user, and not work automatically with content selection.
“We need digital spaces that protect children and young people, without harmful and inflammatory content,” said Armand Zorn, deputy chairman of the SPD parliamentary group.
The German government is expected to support the joint initiative of the Social Democrats and Conservatives later this year. The proposal is scheduled to be considered ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump.
The initiative reflects a broader European trend to strengthen child protection online amid concerns about the impact of digital services.
The European Commission has previously said that TikTok’s algorithms, including its infinite scrolling and personalized recommendations features, could lead to compulsive use of the app, especially among children and teenagers.
