social media age limits for kids: a growing call, led by Germany's Justice Minister Hubig
Advocate for User Age Restrictions on Social Media Expresses Support from Minister of Justice Role
In the digital era, a chorus of politicians are advocating for social media age limits, with Germany's Justice Minister Hubig being the latest to join the cause. This movement aims to shield kids from the pressure of self-promotion and provide some relief for parents dealing with the daily discussions on children's social media activities.
According to Justice Minister Hubig, a clear and effective age limit for using social media is vital for children's privacy and healthy development. The SPD politician emphasized that children and young people need protection instead of being subjected to self-promotion pressure.
Politics & ParentsKids won't love it, but tough restrictions on social media usage for the under-16 crowd could spell good news for parents. With such regulations in place, parents will no longer have to be concerned about the daily scrutiny of their children's online activities.
Initial research, both here in Germany and in other countries, points to positive effects. Reduced bullying, increased concentration, and enhanced social interactions are just a few benefits that could result from setting clear boundaries.
Social Science Research Suggests Benefits
A researcher's advice underlines the importance of unified regulation. "Nearly no one wants a complete mobile ban in schools," said the expert, emphasizing the need for a joint approach in addressing the issue.
Legislation in ProgressThe CDU, CSU, and SPD agreed in the coalition agreement to establish an expert commission to investigate the effects of digital media on children and young people. The Justice Minister strongly supports Education Minister Prien's push in this area, advocating for a swift progress in this critical concern. Minister Prien has consistently been calling for a legally-backed age verification system.
In Europe, several proposals are under consideration to restrict children's access to social media:
- EU-Wide Proposal: Led by Greece, France, and Spain, the proposal aims to set a single "digital age of majority" across the EU, requiring parental consent for children under the specified age limit until they reach the minimum age.
- Age Verification App: The European Commission is developing an age-verification app to ensure age-restricted content access, starting with content for those aged 18 and over, although it may not focus solely on social media age limits for children.
- France's Legislation: An existing French law requires parental consent for social media users under 15, although complete implementation is yet to take place.
- Countries Proposing Ban: Denmark, Greece, and several other countries, such as Spain, suggest a ban on social media for children under 15.
- Device-Level Controls: Proposals include mandatory age verification at the device level and limiting addictive features in apps, such as auto-playing videos and content personalization.
However, challenges remain, such as cultural differences, practical considerations, and potential resistance from tech companies like Apple and Google regarding device-level controls. Additionally, countries like Australia and New Zealand are also examining similar age restrictions on social media access.
Sources: ntv.de, as/dpa; Enrichment Data: [1], [2], [3], [5]
- Social Media
- Children
- Healthy Development
- Parents
- CDU
- CSU
- SPD
- Stefanie Hubig
- Karin Prien
- Mobile Phone
- Smartphones
- Regulation
- Legislation
- Culture
- Tech Companies
- Resistance
- Innovation
- Europe
- Age Verification
- Family Protection
- Self-Promotion
- Bullying
- Focus
- The Commission, as part of investigating the effects of digital media on children and young people, is also involved in the preparation of the draft directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens.
- The SPD politician, Karin Prien, has consistently been advocating for a swift progress in the establishment of a legally-backed age verification system, which is a crucial concern in Europe and beyond, where several countries are examining similar age restrictions on social media access.
