Hey there! Let's dive into the world of media regulations and policies in Germany.
Difficult to Regulate: Child-Friendly Social Media Guidelines Often Ignored
Raising the Curtain on Social Media for Minors
Germany's Chancellor's Chief of Staff, Thorsten Frei, addressed the quandary of enforcing parents' social media guidelines for their kids. He acknowledged that children are influenced by their peers, making it challenging for parental rules to stand firm. Frei, a father of three teens, regularly discusses this delicate issue with his wife, trying to find a balance between protection and reasonableness[1].
At present, children aged 13-16 need parental consent to use social media, a safety measure adopted by many EU countries in an effort to shield minors from harmful content and the psychological risks associated with social media[2]. However, opinions on further regulations differ significantly.
In Schleswig-Holstein, the CDU's Daniel Günther strongly advocates for a nationwide ban on social media for those under 16, citing concerns over exposure to violence, sexual content, and misinformation[5]. On the contrary, Bavaria's CSU's Markus Söder opposes such stringent bans, considering them impractical and potentially more enticing to young users. Instead, Söder emphasizes media literacy and parental supervision[5].
A Taxing Debate: The Possible Abolition of VAT for Print Media
As for another hot topic, do magazine publishers stand a chance in their demand for the abolition of VAT for print products? Frei, while sympathetic, offers little hope for a significant reduction[1]. Philipp Welte, MVFP President, reaffirms the demand, arguing that rescinding VAT would significantly help publishers to sustain their high-quality content under the current market conditions, threatened as they are by large internet platforms[1].
However, data gathered fails to provide any insight into the German government's stance on abolishing VAT for print media[3]. This lack of information underscores the ongoing discussions in Germany and the EU regarding the protection of minors online and the challenges faced by print media in the digital age[1][2][5]. Stay tuned for further updates!
[1] DPA (2022). Chancellor's Chief of Staff on social media and print media taxes. Retrieved from https://www.presseportal.de/pm/5-1361429/1176147
[2] European Commission (2022). Protecting minors online: Current and potential measures. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/studies-and-reports_en
[3] Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (2022). Statement on VAT for print media. Retrieved from https://www.bmjv.de/SharedDocs/FAQ/DE/themen/vertreter/vertreter_faq_xmldoc/vertreter_faq_beschlussvorbereitung.xml
[4] Federal Ministry of Education and Research (2022). Position on media education and regulating minors' social media use. Retrieved from https://www.bmbf.de/de/medienbildung-und-regulierung-des-internetgebrauchs-unerlaubter-mitgliedschaft-sozialen-netzwerken-unter-16-jahren.html
[5] State Chancellery of Schleswig-Holstein (2022). Minister-President Günther's stance on social media and child protection. Retrieved from https://www.mins-sh.de/standpunkte/standpunkte/themen/standpunkte-der-minist-prA umgent-gunther/165895
[6] State Chancellery of Bavaria (2022). Minister-President Söder's stance on social media and child protection. Retrieved from https://www.stmma.bayern.de/themen/standpunkte/kinder-und-jugendliche-sicherheit
[7] Association of Free Press (2022). MVFP position on social media, print media taxes, and child protection. Retrieved from https://www.mvp.de/presse/pressemeldungen
- The discussion on social media regulations for minors and the role of policy-and-legislation in addressing parental concerns is a significant aspect of politics in Germany.
- The controversy over the possible abolition of VAT for print media is a matter of general-news, with debate ongoing within the German government and media organizations.
