Germany Considers Social Media Restrictions for Children

A comprehensive regulatory proposal concerning children’s use of social media has come to the agenda in Germany. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has proposed a full ban on social media platforms for children under 14 and a restricted “youth version” for those aged 14–16.

In the planned mandatory “youth version” for users aged 14–16, algorithm-based feeds, recommendation systems, and personalized content delivery would not be available. Addictive features such as endless scrolling, autoplay, push notifications, and gamification would also be prohibited.

According to the SPD’s proposal, access to platforms would be provided exclusively through a digital identity application called EUDI Wallet, controlled by parents. This system, scheduled to take effect in 2027, aims to enable digital age verification. For users aged 16 and over, algorithmic recommendations would be turned off by default and could only be activated with explicit user consent. Users in this age group would log in using their own digital identity. Experts say that if implemented, the regulation could make Germany one of the strictest countries in Europe in regulating children’s use of social media.

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