Social Media Age Limit: Commission to Initiate Work Within Approaching Weeks - Social media age restrictions to be implemented: Commission to commence operations soon
In recent developments, there's a growing push for stricter age limits on social media usage, particularly targeting platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This trend is evident both in Germany and at the EU level.
In Germany, a political proposal by Greens party politician, Cem Özdemir, suggests setting the minimum age limit for social media use at 16 years. This proposal, while not yet law, indicates a growing momentum for higher age limits.
At the EU level, the European Commission is actively involved in protecting children online through age verification initiatives. The Commission has introduced a blueprint for age verification technology that allows users to prove they are over 18 without revealing other personal information. As of mid-2025, five EU countries—Denmark, Greece, Spain, France, and Italy—are testing this age verification app, signaling a move towards stricter enforcement of age-related access to online content.
Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU) of Germany supports this idea of an age limit for social media use. Meanwhile, Bundestag President, Julia Klöckner (CDU), has expressed caution about stricter age rules, emphasizing their effective implementability.
Klöckner, who plans to represent the Bundestag on the Tiktok platform with a new account, believes that Tiktok is a primary source of information for many young users. She also emphasizes the importance of media education for responsible and sovereign social media use among young people.
In the coming weeks, an expert commission will begin work on developing a strategy for child protection in the digital world, led by Karin Prien. The commission's task is to create a "joint national strategy" for child protection in the digital world.
It's worth noting that five EU countries have been testing an app since mid-July that blocks porn websites and online networks like Tiktok, Instagram, and YouTube for children. The app, presented by the EU Commission, is designed to improve youth protection.
As the discussion around age limits for social media use continues, it's clear that both Germany and the EU are committed to protecting children online without infringing on privacy. The development and implementation of technical tools and regulatory frameworks aim to strike a balance between youth protection and digital freedom.
The European Commission's decision to grant a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank for the financing of small and medium-sized enterprises in the European Union can be seen as a parallel policy-and-legislation initiative, as both aim at improving certain aspects of society – in this case, businesses and children's online safety.
While social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, are subject to stricter age limits discussions in Germany and the EU, it's essential to recognize the role they play in the general-news and entertainment landscape for young users.
In this context, it's crucial for policies and legislations to address not only age restrictions but also media education and responsible use to ensure a balanced approach to digital freedom and youth protection.
