Prime Minister Lies: Social media only for children aged 14 and over!

Prime Minister Lies: Social media only for children aged 14 and over!

In the current debate about the protection of children in digital spaces, Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Olaf Lies has made clear demands. He is pushing for a minimum age of 14 to use social networks such as TikTok and Instagram. How stern.de reports, Lies considers this age limit to be “obvious and sensible”, especially to protect children and their parents when surfing the Internet. He warns that not all social media content is appropriate for minors. Content such as pornography, violent videos and bullying can be particularly harmful.

These concerns are supported by Lies' comments about the increase in violence spread via cell phone footage in schools. To counteract this, he is calling for clear legal regulations at European level, as in his opinion a national solution is not sufficient. There is currently no uniform minimum age for using social media in Germany, which makes the situation complicated.

International comparisons and debates

A look beyond the borders shows that other countries are already further ahead: In Australia, users are only allowed to use social networks from the age of 16, while Denmark is planning an age limit of 15 years. Tagesschau.de reports that in Germany there are also voices calling for an age limit of 16 years. Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther, for example, is calling for a ban on social media for those under 16. Education Minister Karin Prien expresses the need for better protection, but does not want to commit to an exact age limit.

The debate among young people is mixed. Some find the age limit of 16 excessive, while there are also supporters of a minimum age of 14. Critics point out that fixed age limits cannot be the solution, as many young people use the platforms to obtain political information.

The perspective of science and young people

Scientists have also commented. The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina recommends a ban up to the age of 13 and requires parental consent up to the age of 15. A survey shows that 94% of girls and 90% of boys between the ages of 10 and 17 regularly use social media. Interestingly, teens spend an average of over 2.5 hours on social media on weekdays and almost 4 hours on weekends. Loud Spektrum.de There are numerous risks associated with its use, including cyberbullying and addictive potential.

But what does it look like in reality? When talking to 13-year-old girls who have been using smartphones for several years, it becomes clear: Lina and Mailin, who received their first device at the age of 10 and 11 respectively, have had few negative experiences so far, but feel the need for effective protective measures. Experts emphasize that age-appropriate offers should be developed instead of blanket bans and that parents must play an important role in informing their children about the risks on the Internet.

Both politics and society are called upon to find solutions that meet the needs of young people and at the same time ensure effective protection. It remains exciting to see what recommendations the interdisciplinary commission for youth media protection will develop and whether the required age limits will actually be met.