Germany's SPD proposes social media ban for children under 14

2026-02-16 - 10:05

Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party has proposed sweeping restrictions on social media access for minors, including a complete ban for children under 14, according to a policy paper reported Monday by business daily Handelsblatt. The proposal, which would require age verification through the "EUDI Wallet" digital identity app, represents a significant shift in German internet policy. Three-Tiered Age Regulation The SPD plan establishes graded restrictions across three age groups. For children under 14, platforms would be "technically prevented" from providing access, with violations facing severe sanctions—including temporary restrictions or network blocks "as a last resort." For those under 16, a mandatory "youth version" would eliminate addiction-enhancing features such as endless scrolling, autoplay, incentive systems, and algorithmically controlled feeds. Access would require parental authorization via the EUDI Wallet app. Adult Default Settings For citizens 16 and older, including adults, algorithmic recommendation systems would be deactivated by default. Users wishing to receive content suggestions would need to consciously opt in. This age group would also verify identity through the EUDI Wallet before using services. Rethinking Internet Freedom SPD chairman and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil told German Press Agency that he is reconsidering his position on internet freedom. "A few years ago, we all emphasized the freedom of the internet and said that there should be no restrictions whatsoever," Klingbeil said. "But now we see in the debates that something is happening in society, that young people are coming to me and saying we need clear rules on how to deal with social networks. We need restrictions... and we need to make decisions about that now."