Debate: Age limits for social media — Hendrik Streeck calls for clear thresholds

The debate about age limits for social networks in Germany has intensified. While a recent legal opinion from the Scientific Service of the Bundestag dampened some expectations, Federal Addiction Commissioner Hendrik Streeck (CDU) is calling for clear age thresholds to better protect children and adolescents.

Streeck points to studies indicating that children and teenagers spend several hours daily on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, exposing them to potentially harmful content and algorithmic mechanisms that can foster addictive use.

Key points:

• Bundestag Scientific Service issued an advisory that moderated expectations about strict age bans.
• Hendrik Streeck supports clear age limits to protect young users from excessive exposure and manipulation.
• Debate centers on balancing protection with freedom and how to enforce age limits effectively.

For more detail, see the Politik & Kommunikation coverage of the discussion: https://www.politik-kommunikation.de/braucht-es-in-deutschland-ein-social-media-verbot-fuer-unter-16-jaehrige/

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