Protection from social media: Experts demand clear boundaries for children!

Protection from social media: Experts demand clear boundaries for children!

The dangers and possibilities of social media were the focus of the recently held “Kiel Dialogue”, which attracted around 100 guests. Lectures and discussions discussed the challenges that children and young people face in the digital world. Prof. Dr. Silvia Schneider, an expert in clinical child and adolescent psychology, and Thomas Feibel, author and media expert, provided valuable insights on the topic. Tailor… reports about it, the importance of protecting children from the risks of social media while teaching them skills in using it.

The professor emphasized that there is a clear connection between intensive use of social media and various mental health problems such as eating disorders, low self-esteem and even suicide risk. Nevertheless, Schneider calls for a four-pillar model that includes usage restrictions, educational measures, awareness campaigns and independent research. “We have to take action together,” she said.

Regulation and responsibility

In his speech, Thomas Feibel particularly targeted the manipulation of children through social media and pointed out that many adults often do not know what they should protect. He advocated taking greater responsibility for social media and encouraging children to develop their media skills. Many students interviewed as part of the dialogue were in favor of banning social media for under-13s. They pointed out that they often cannot correctly assess the impact of the platforms.

A heated debate also broke out about the responsibility between politicians and parents. Some demanded that parents, rather than politicians, should make decisions about their children's media use. Because where are the personal values ​​and upbringing? Education Minister Dorit Stenke also commented on this, making it clear that it was necessary to create reliable boundaries and protective mechanisms for children. Stenke spoke out in favor of an honest debate about binding age limits for social media and emphasized the connection between media literacy and protection.

Media use and its consequences

Over 80% of young people in Germany today use social media every day, on average around 3.5 hours. These numbers are alarming because many studies, such as those from the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, show direct links between intensive use and psychological problems, especially among younger users. It is strongly pointed out that children under the age of 13 should not have social media accounts. This would be supported by clear policy measures to ensure the safety of the youngest.

The latest developments show that more and more children are starting to use social media at primary school age. A worrying trend that already sees 10% of 6-7 year olds on platforms like TikTok. Heavy use has also been found to be linked to problems such as depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. Age limits and clear regulations are essential here to ensure the protection of children and to counteract addictive use.

In countries like Australia, children are only allowed to use social media from the age of 16, and in some EU countries age controls are already being pushed. It remains to be seen how Germany will respond to these challenges, but one thing is clear: parents, schools and politicians are called upon to work together to ensure the safety and health of the young generation. The daily news highlights that more research on this topic is needed to explore the effectiveness of protective measures.