In Germany, there is active discussion about introducing strict restrictions on social media use by children and adolescents. The ruling coalition is promoting initiatives aimed at protecting minors from harmful content, cyberbullying, addiction, and psychological abuse.
On February 16, 2026, the Social Democrats published a position paper proposing a differentiated approach:
A complete ban on access to social media (TikTok, Instagram, and similar platforms) for children under 14. Platforms will be required to technically block such users (including using the European Digital Identity (EUDI Wallet).
For teenagers aged 14–16, mandatory special “youth versions” of apps will be provided without algorithmic recommendation feeds, autoscrolling, infinite scrolling, personalized advertising, and other addictive mechanisms.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig and other coalition politicians emphasize: “Protecting young people from the flood of hate and violence on social media is our top priority.”
The German government plans to make a final decision on the issue around autumn 2026; the matter is currently under review by a commission under the Ministry of Family Affairs. If the law is passed, platforms could face large fines and even blocking in the country for failure to comply.
The initiative follows a global trend: Australia has already introduced a ban for everyone under 16 (effective December 2025), France approved a ban for those under 15 in its first reading, and similar discussions are underway in Spain, Denmark, Italy, and at the European Commission level (Ursula von der Leyen supports the idea of a single European age limit of 16).