German child‑digital protection commission proposes 13‑year age limit for social media

A government‑appointed expert commission on child and youth digital protection, convened by Family Minister Karin Prien, presented 56 recommendations to the German cabinet on 24 June 2026. The core proposals include a minimum age of 13 years for independent use of social‑media platforms, with optional age‑based rules for each service, and a ban on smartphones in schools up to the seventh grade. The commission also calls for a screen‑free environment for children under three, the inclusion of a “digital neglect” right in the Civil Code, and mandatory digital‑media education beginning in early childhood.

The report stresses a three‑fold approach – protection, empowerment and participation – and urges that platforms be held legally responsible for algorithmic design, advertising and addictive features. It recommends a European‑wide regulatory framework, tighter enforcement of the EU Digital Services Act, and the creation of a child‑online reporting centre. Political reactions vary: the CDU welcomes the recommendations as a confirmation of its policy, while the SPD calls for stricter limits, including a ban up to age 14. Civil‑society groups and experts, such as criminologist Thomas‑Gabriel Rüdiger, have warned that the measures may over‑reach parental authority and serve commercial interests.

A complementary research overview by the #UseTheNews initiative underscored the need for enhanced media‑literacy programmes and information‑competence among young people to complement the regulatory measures.