Düsseldorf's Top Politician Ponders Over Social Media Ban for Young Germans
Social Media Ban: Call for Rue to Address Debate on Social Media Restrictions - Advocates for Dialogue on Potential Restriction of Social Media Access
Wondering if restricting social media access for the young generation in Germany is a sensible move? That's what North Rhine-Westphalian Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) seems to be pondering over. According to his words on Deutschlandfunk, "We don't let children or young people into all films in the cinema either. There's also a ban there. So why do we have total free access in the net?"
Come November 2024, Australia will introduce a minimum age of 16 for social media use. With this, have we got the Aussies contemplating a similar action in Germany, as implied by Reul? "I could never have imagined that I would seriously consider this," Reul admitted. However, there are undoubtedly benefits of internet freedom, but is it time to consider restrictions too?
Reul Mike Tysons the Youth
Alarmed by the rising number of extremists, including among young people, as per the new constitution protection report, Reul voices his concerns. "We obviously have more young people who are unstable, who are insecure, who sit in front of this net, spend the whole day online and get hooked", Reul said. Debating within the right-wing extremism and Islamism spectrum, there's evidence of young individuals being easily swayed, Reul added.
The CDU Politician Foresees Violence
The younger generation, according to the CDU politician, shows a higher propensity for violence than before. With this in mind, Reul reckons that it's more crucial than ever to provide stability to the youth so that they are less susceptible to extremist positions. Reul also considers granting security services additional powers when necessary, stating, "We will be using virtual investigators in North Rhine-Westphalia." These digital detectives pose as like-minded individuals online, paving the way for contact with potential extremists.
Quick Facts:- Herbert Reul, North Rhine-Westphalian Interior Minister- Extremism- Germany- CDU- Düsseldorf- NRW- Deutschlandfunk- Australia
Points to Ponder:- More and more European countries like France, Spain, Greece are seeking a minimum age or "digital majority" to protect minors from harmful online content. The focus is on safeguarding mental health, eliminating cyberbullying, disinformation, and hate speech, rather than curbing extremism.- Germany isn't at the forefront of the EU-wide discussions regarding social media restrictions for minors. The main driving forces for these reforms are France, Spain, Greece, Denmark, Slovenia, and Cyprus.- Should total freedom on the internet be reconsidered considering the rise of extremism and increased vulnerability among young people online?
- As Australia contemplates a minimum age for social media use in November 2024, Germany's North Rhine-Westphalian Interior Minister, Herbert Reul (CDU), suggests a possible extension of the agreement's validity to address the issue of online extremism, particularly among young people, reflecting a policy-and-legislation discussion that could have significant implications for the general news and crime-and-justice landscape.
- In the context of rising extremism among the younger generation in Germany and the concern over their increased propensity for violence, Reul advocates for providing stability to the youth, which could involve granting security services additional powers such as virtual investigators, a move that aligns with policy-and-legislation developments in other European countries seeking to protect minors online, reflecting broader politics discussions.
