Germany Proposes Age-Appropriate Rules Instead of a Ban on Children’s Phone Use
The use of smartphones and social media by children has once again come to the agenda in Germany. Federal Minister for Family Affairs Karin Prien opposed a general social media ban for children, saying instead that age-appropriate rules for digital use should be developed.Prien, a minister from the CDU, said in an interview with Eltern magazine that Germany is a digital society and that children cannot be completely excluded from this world. However, she emphasized that this does not mean unlimited use. Prien stated that children should be prepared for the digital environment in an age-appropriate way.
According to Prien, digital child protection cannot be left solely to families. Social media platforms should also make age verification systems more effective and take greater responsibility for protecting children from online risks. The minister also noted that digital risks do not affect all children in the same way. Stating that some children and young people are more vulnerable to online dangers, Prien argued that a child protection policy is needed that is not based only on bans but also takes risk groups into account.
Prien also drew attention to the role of parents. She said that mothers and fathers should not only set rules for their children but also serve as role models through their own phone use. Emphasizing in particular that phones should not be kept in children’s rooms at night, Prien stated that this simple rule could make a major difference within the family.