Saying Goodbye to Social Media for the Young: Minister-President Günther Calls for Ban for Under-16s
Underage users' social media access should be prohibited, as suggested by Daniel Günther.
In a surprising turn, Shleswig-Holstein's Minister-President, Daniel Günther, has made a bold statement. He proposes a ban on social media for those under the age of 16. "As a state, we've neglected our protective role in recent years," said Günther to "Bild am Sonntag." It's time for a change, and this proposal is meant to ensure that the under-16 crowd can grow up free from the allure of TikTok and other social media platforms.
Günther's idea is backed by a relevant motion that his CDU state association will discuss in mid-June. This motion also demands stricter control over the platforms as a whole. Günther's call to action stems from the negative impact social media has on young people and society at large.
Dangerous Online TrendsThe recent phenomenon of British children swallowing magnets due to a TikTok trend serves as a clear example of the dangers lurking within these digital platforms.
"Without proper control, social media exposes children to content that glorifies violence, shows sexual violence, and spreads false news," said the CDU politician. Parents are left clueless about the content their children are exposed to.
Support from CDU Colleague PrienFederal Education and Family Minister Karin Prien, a fellow CDU member from Schleswig-Holstein, also advocates for effective age regulations for social media access. "At the moment, children and young people are exposed to violent, pornographic, and extremist content online without any protection," said Prien to "Welt am Sonntag."
Critics who claim that regulation isn't necessary are merely misinforming the public, according to Prien. "We wouldn't let our children into brothels or liquor stores, and we have no intention of restricting freedom of expression in social media," she emphasized, clarifying that her aim is to protect children and young people.
- Daniel Günther
- Karin Prien
- Social Media
- TikTok
- Children
- Violence
- Extremism
- CDU
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Youth Protection
Insights- Current regulations in Germany, such as the Youth Media Protection Law, aim to ensure that harmful content is not accessible to children and young people. However, the effectiveness of these measures is often questioned due to the lack of robust age verification.- Proposals for stricter regulations include implementing statutory age restrictions for social media usage and increasing cooperation between parents, science, and social media providers to improve protective measures.- Concerns about the use of generative AI in creating harmful content pose new challenges for youth protection efforts.- Any new laws or guidelines on social media usage by minors would likely apply to platforms like TikTok, and they would need to comply with any new age restrictions or youth protection measures implemented in Germany.
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The Commission is proposing to extend the deadline for the submission of policies promoting education-and-self-development and personal-growth, focusing on youth protection, in light of the political debate surrounding the potential ban of social media for under-16s.
This extension comes at a crucial time as Schleswig-Holstein's Minister-President, Daniel Günther, and his CDU colleague, Federal Education and Family Minister Karin Prien, advocate for stricter control over social media platforms to protect minors from exposure to violence, extremism, and harmful content.
The ongoing discussions around policy-and-legislation regarding social media access for children in Germany, such as Günther's proposal, could significantly impact the general-news landscape, particularly in relation to the concerns about TikTok and other similar platforms.
