Sayonara, Social Media for Kids Under 16! Daniel Günther Proposes Ban in Schleswig-Holstein
Youth Age Limit Advocated for Social Media Bans: Daniel Günther Proposes Restriction for Users Under 16
Get ready to bid adieu to social media for youngsters under 16, according to Daniel Günther, the Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein. In an informal chat with "Bild am Sonntag," Günther expressed his concerns about the growing influence of TikTok and other social platforms on children, stating, "As a state, we've been remiss in our protective role in recent years."
Günther's proposition follows a related lead proposal by the CDU state association that will be decided in mid-June. This proposal also calls for stricter control of the platforms as a whole, citing the harmful effects of social media on young people and society.
Cause for Concern Social Media’s Dark Side "Without proper monitoring, social media exposes children to content that glorifies violence, displays sexualized violence, and propagates misinformation," Günther warned. Parents are left in the dark, unable to discern the deluge the digital world imposes upon their young ones.
Not alone in his crusade, Federal Education and Family Minister Karin Prien (also a member of the CDU state association of Schleswig-Holstein) voices her agreement. "Exposed to violent, pornographic, and extremist content on the internet without protection, our children are in grave danger," Prien stated to "Welt am Sonntag."
European Trends While Germany is set to take strides in protecting its young citizens, similar movements are brewing across Europe. Countries like France, Greece, and Spain are leading the charge to ban social media for children under 16, aiming to shield them from technological perils. The European Union's upcoming mobile app for age verification, set to launch in July 2025, may further bolster these protective measures.
As the conversation around children’s online safety heightens, figures like Günther and Prien steer the discourse, striving to establish guardrails in an ever-evolving digital era. Acknowledging the need for caution, both officials emphasize that their objective is child and youth protection — not stifling free speech.
Sources: ntv.de, as/dpa, Various EU reports
- Daniel Günther
- Karin Prien
- Social Media
- TikTok
- Children
- Violence
- Extremism
- CDU
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Youth Protection
- European Union
- Age Verification
- Daniel Günther, the Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein, is proposing to extend the restrictions on social media to children under 16, citing concerns about the harmful effects of platforms like TikTok.
- In line with this proposal, Federal Education and Family Minister Karin Prien (also a member of the CDU state association of Schleswig-Holstein) has voiced her agreement, expressing concern over the exposure of children to violent, pornographic, and extremist content on social media.
- The Commission, following similar movements across Europe in countries like France, Greece, and Spain, might extend policy-and-legislation aimed at age verification for mobile apps to better protect young users from the dark side of social media and the digital world.
