Germany plans to ban social media for children under 13 and implement age verification through digital wallet
Germany plans to ban social media for children under 13 and implement age verification through digital wallet
The German government approved a child protection concept that includes banning social media for children under 13, implementing age verification through EUDI-Wallet, and mandatory parental control. The initiative has drawn criticism from data protection advocates and the internet industry, who fear violations of information rights and the creation of surveillance infrastructure.
The German government approved on January 17, 2024 a concept for new child and youth media protection proposed by Family Minister Karin Prien. The measure aims to protect, educate and engage children and adolescents in digital space.
The central part of the plan is the regulation of social media. At the European level, the government advocates for banning access to social platforms for children under 13 as part of negotiations on the EU Kids Act. The principle of “Safety by Design” is planned to be implemented, under which addictive mechanisms should be blocked at the development stage. Algorithmic recommendation systems will be disabled by default to prevent endless scrolling. At the national level, the government plans to ban children under 13 from using social media, except for “children’s” platforms. For teenagers aged 13-18, age-based restrictions are provided.
To verify age from 2027, the German version of the European digital wallet EUDI-Wallet is planned to be used, which should only confirm reaching the minimum age. The Ministry of Justice plans to clarify in the Civil Code that parents are obliged to monitor children’s media consumption. Medical examinations are also provided to identify risks of excessive media consumption and introduction of a program to teach schoolchildren the basics of artificial intelligence.
The plans have drawn criticism from data protection advocates and youth organizations. They argue that age bans and mandatory verification systems violate the right to free information and digital participation of minors. Critics point out that bans do not solve the problem at its root, but only displace youth into unregulated niches.
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