Germany Considers Social Media Age Restriction for Children Following Australia’s Lead

Germany’s Digital Affairs Minister Karsten Wildberger has indicated support for introducing a social media age restriction for children, similar to Australia’s recent law, in an interview with dpa in Berlin. He emphasized the importance of enabling children to experience healthy development without the pressures and distractions of social media.

“I can see a lot of merit in that. I consider the question of an age restriction to be more than justified,” Wildberger said, highlighting concerns about the impact of social media on attention spans, mental health, and overall growth. He added that providing children time to focus and engage without digital distractions is essential for their development.

Australia recently implemented a ban preventing anyone under 16 from holding personal accounts on major social media platforms, aiming to protect young people from cyberbullying, harmful content, and excessive usage. The move has sparked international debates about the appropriate age for children to access social media.

In Germany, an expert commission on Child and Youth Protection in the Digital Age has been tasked with studying these issues. Comprising academics and practitioners from medicine, youth services, and education, the panel is expected to issue recommendations by summer 2026, covering possible age limits and controversial topics such as banning mobile phones in schools.

Wildberger stressed the importance of considering teachers’ insights, noting that children need environments that allow them to focus and develop without digital distractions. His comments reflect growing global attention to the effects of social media on young people’s mental, emotional, and cognitive well-being.