The debate about the harmful effects of social media has been long-standing. Now the federal government wants to get serious about better child and youth protection in the digital world. On Wednesday, the Federal Cabinet approved a key issues paper based on the recommendations of the expert commission appointed by Federal Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU).
In this way, the federal government is creating “the basis so that children and young people can grow up safely and self-determinedly in the digital world,” said Prien. "Stop cyberbullying as well as constant scrolling! We consistently hold the platform operators accountable and support parents - they educate the children, we don't leave that to the algorithms of corporations."
1. Social media is generally prohibited for under-13s
The federal government wants to work at EU level in the EU Kids Act to ensure that children under the age of 13 do not have access to social networks. Until there is a European solution, Germany should create a national transitional arrangement. Exceptions are made for offers that can be proven to be child-friendly.
2. Restrictions also for 13 to 17 year olds
Even young people aged 13 to 17 should not be able to use social networks without restrictions. “Graded restrictions” are planned. The key points paper still leaves open what these should look like in concrete terms.
3. Stop addictive design and automatic recommendation algorithms
In the planned EU Kids Act, the federal government is pushing for “Safety by Design”. Addictive designs should be banned. Algorithmic recommendation systems should be deactivated by default for minors and only be able to be actively activated.
4. Age verification via digital wallet
From 2027, the German wallet “d-you” will enable reliable age verification. For example, it should only be possible to confirm that a certain minimum age has been reached without passing on any further personal data. The use of the wallet should be voluntary.
5. Parental obligation to provide media education
The parents' existing obligation to supervise media use should be made more specific. In doing so, the federal government wants to raise awareness of the fact that parents must also supervise their child's use of media, depending on their child's age and maturity. However, she sees the main responsibility for a secure digital environment as lying with the platform operators.
6. Media competence is expressly the responsibility of child and youth welfare services
It should be stipulated by law that the protection and support mandate of youth welfare explicitly also includes the digital world. Media literacy should be more firmly anchored in law in, among other things, youth work, youth social work, school social work and family education.
7. An “AI seahorse” for elementary school students
In the future, children of primary school age will be able to acquire basic knowledge of using artificial intelligence with a nationwide “AI seahorse”. They should learn to recognize, understand and critically assess AI applications.
8. New media campaign initially for parents of young children
A nationwide information and awareness campaign is scheduled to start digitally in the fourth quarter of 2026. In the first step it is aimed at parents of preschool children; It is expected to be rolled out more widely in 2027.
9. Media consumption becomes an issue during preventive examinations
The health risks of digital media consumption should play a role in the new U10 preventive examination for nine to ten year olds and in the free J1 youth health examination for twelve to 14 year olds. The plan is to identify corresponding risks and provide advice on them. The federal government is also aiming for a binding invitation system for both investigations.
10. Children should be able to report crimes via their own online watchdog
The federal government wants to advocate for a “children’s online guard” with the states, i.e. a child-friendly version of the existing online guards. Schools and educational institutions should provide information about this. The Federal Ministry of the Interior also announces measures by the Federal Criminal Police Office against cybergrooming.
11. Media literacy offerings should be bundled centrally
Existing offers to promote media literacy should be brought together in a central database. Parents, specialists and institutions should be able to find suitable offers there. In addition, child-friendly online offerings should be expanded.
12. Platform fines should benefit children
Germany wants to work at the EU level to ensure that fines from the EU Commission for violations of youth media protection are used for media education measures.
The federal government sees the protection of children and young people in the media “explicitly as a shared task,” it says in the key issues paper. Children and young people should be protected from dangers, while at the same time being enabled to use digital offerings competently and independently and be able to participate in the digital world. So far, the paper is just a kind of roadmap. The implementation of the measures is “subject to the respective responsibilities and the available budget resources”.
