Germany may restrict access to social media for children under 14
Germany may join a number of countries that are introducing restrictions on access to social media for children and teenagers.
Germany may join a number of countries that are introducing restrictions on access to social media for children and teenagers.
German Social Democrats have supported a proposal by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives to restrict access to social media for those under the age of 16. Bloomberg reports .
Similar restrictions on digital services that can be addictive and harmful are being introduced by several European countries: France, Spain, and Denmark. This creates the prerequisites for aggravating relations with some of the largest American companies.
The German bill would ban social media for children under 14, and platforms would be required to provide appropriate content for those aged 14 to 16.
"We need safe digital spaces, free from addictive algorithms and unwanted content such as hate speech, incitement, disinformation and violence," German lawmakers said.
They also want to change the rules governing platforms' provision of adult content. Instead of algorithmic recommendations, the Social Democrats propose that such systems should only be activated upon explicit request.
A bill to restrict social media for children in Germany is expected to be passed later this year.
Which countries restrict children's access to social media?
Last fall, Denmark's government and opposition coalition agreed on a political decision to restrict teenagers' access to social platforms, setting a minimum age of 15.
In December 2025, Australia became the first country to ban social media for teenagers under 16 and block access to them.
In January 2026, the French National Assembly voted in favor of a bill that prohibits access to social media for children under 15 and tightens restrictions on the use of smartphones in high schools.
In February of this year, it became known that the Spanish government plans to restrict access to social networks for teenagers under the age of 16 and, in parallel, change the approach to the liability of large online platforms for illegal and hateful content.
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