More than half of Germans back the prohibition of social media use for minors

Government body crafts outline for consideration

, and ASMedia

2025 September 3 . 12:18 AM

3 min read

Majority of Germans favor prohibiting social media usage for minors.

In the coming weeks, an expert commission on child and youth protection in the digital world is set to begin its work in Germany, as concerns about the impact of social media on young people continue to rise. This commission will be examining stricter rules for the use of social media, a move that reflects a growing push for a minimum age limit on social media platforms.

A recent Forsa survey, commissioned by the magazine "Stern" and RTL Germany, sheds light on the current public opinion regarding a potential ban on social media for children under 16 years old in Germany. The survey, conducted on August 14 and 15, found that a majority of 54% of citizens support such a ban.

Supporters of the Union, SPD, and Left are mostly in favor of this ban, while only voters of the Greens and the AfD are mostly of a different opinion. Among parents and older people, 60% each are in favor of a social media ban for children under 16, a clear indication of concern among these groups.

Among those aged 18 to 29, 51% are in favor of a social media ban, which is a clear majority but fewer than the older age groups. Interestingly, 41% of those surveyed are against such a ban, and 5% did not express an opinion.

The survey did not specify whether the support for a ban extends to all social networks, including TikTok and Instagram. It also did not provide information on the reasons why parents and older people are more likely to support a social media ban for children under 16.

Federal Education Minister Karin Prien of the CDU has been advocating for stricter age restrictions on online platforms to protect children and young people. Last week, she announced that she will examine stricter rules regarding the use of social media.

Legally, a nationwide social media ban for under-16s in Germany is complicated. Media law experts point out that due to the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which governs digital regulation in member states, Germany alone cannot unilaterally impose such a ban — it would require an EU-level decision. This suggests a structural limit on how the issue is legislated at the national level, possibly tempering public expectations.

The presence of political advocacy and media legal debate indicates a notable level of public and institutional concern about children's social media use, supporting stricter age regulation. Germany’s Commissioner on Narcotic Drugs, Hendrik Streeck, has publicly called for the government to implement a minimum age limit for social media use, citing scientific evidence linking age-inappropriate content consumption with addictive behaviors and mental health issues among youth.

In addition to concerns about addiction and mental health, there are also worries about children replacing physical and social activities with digital engagement. Children reportedly average four hours daily online, a statistic that fuels concerns about the impact of screen time on young people's development.

Meanwhile, broader social media dynamics, including youth exposure to far-right content, have intensified discussions about regulation and youth protection. As the expert commission on child and youth protection in the digital world begins its work, it is expected to address these concerns and propose solutions to protect young people in the digital world.

[1] Source: Stern Magazine and RTL Germany [2] Source: Deutsche Welle [3] Source: Spiegel Online [4] Source: Tagesspiegel [5] Source: EU Commission's Digital Services Act (DSA)