BERLIN — Germany’s ruling Christian Democratic Union, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, approved a motion Saturday calling for a ban on social media use by children younger than 14 and stricter age checks for teenagers at the party’s national conference in Stuttgart, placing German social media curbs at the center of its child protection platform. Backed by coalition partner Social Democrats, the push for these limits reflects mounting concern about addiction-style design, hate and manipulation online as lawmakers weigh tougher penalties for platforms that fail to enforce age rules, Feb. 22, 2026.
The CDU motion, adopted as delegates met in southern Germany, urges the federal government to set a legal minimum age — a cornerstone of German social media curbs — and to pursue tougher verification tools for teenagers — alongside fines for companies that do not comply — according to a Reuters account of the vote. It also calls for European Union-wide harmonization of age standards, part of a broader effort in Europe to press U.S.-based tech firms to do more to protect minors. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs and sanctions if EU countries impose new tech taxes or online regulations that hit U.S. firms.
German social media curbs gain backing inside Merz coalition
The Social Democrats, Merz’s center-left coalition partners, have been moving in the same direction. A discussion paper signed by SPD lawmakers and state politicians proposes blocking children younger than 14 and creating stripped-down “youth versions” for 14- to 16-year-olds that would eliminate algorithm-driven feeds and features such as endless scrolling and autoplay. The debate has centered on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Facebook. It also proposes making opt-outs from algorithmic recommendation systems the default for users older than 16, according to Reuters reporting on the SPD proposal.
“We can no longer avoid clear rules and restrictions,” SPD leader Lars Klingbeil said in an interview with Der Spiegel, calling youth protection “a top priority.” The alignment between the coalition partners has made German social media curbs more politically plausible, even as questions remain about how to enforce them.
Merz has framed the issue as both a child-safety and a democratic resilience challenge. “Do we want to allow artificially generated false news … to be spread via social media?” he said in a speech ahead of the party gathering, citing data that 14-year-olds spend about five and a half hours a day online, according to Reuters.
How the proposed limits would work
In practice, German social media curbs would start with a minimum age of 14 while urging additional safeguards through age 16 — a distinction meant to recognize that even older teens may need stronger protections from harmful content, compulsive design and algorithmic amplification. The party also wants digital verification to become more robust, a technical hurdle that has complicated similar efforts elsewhere.
Any nationwide policy would have to navigate Germany’s federal system. Media regulation is largely a state responsibility, meaning the 16 states would need to coordinate for consistent rules — a process that could determine whether German social media curbs become a patchwork of regional standards or a single nationwide approach.
The federal government appointed a special commission in 2025 to study how to better protect young people from online harm, and it is expected to report later this year. Its findings could shape German social media curbs beyond age limits, including design and reporting tools.
Europe is tightening rules for minors
The EU’s Digital Services Act already requires platforms accessible to minors to take proportionate steps to protect them, a baseline that supporters of German social media curbs cite as Germany debates tougher age limits. In July 2025, the European Commission published guidelines on protecting minors under the DSA, including recommendations such as private-by-default settings for minors and changes to recommender systems to reduce “rabbit holes” of harmful content.
This month, the Commission also launched an EU action plan against cyberbullying, underscoring how online safety policy is widening beyond social networks to cover broader digital risks for children and teens.
Enforcement questions and a familiar debate
Supporters of German social media curbs argue the rules would give parents and schools clearer guardrails. Critics say a ban shifts responsibility from families to the state and may prove hard to police, particularly if children find workarounds or migrate to smaller platforms.
At one high school in Bonn, a 13-year-old student told Reuters, “I think it’s fair, but … it should be up to the parents,” capturing a split among teens between calls for autonomy and recognition that social media can be addictive. Teachers have warned any abrupt change could be disruptive before students settle into new routines.
Other countries’ earlier efforts show both political momentum and practical friction. Australia approved an under-16 social media ban in late 2024, pairing it with enforcement trials and the threat of significant fines for noncompliant companies, according to a Reuters report from Sydney. Britain’s Online Safety Bill cleared Parliament in 2023, giving regulators broad powers to require platforms to remove illegal content and keep children from harmful material, Reuters reported at the time in this account of the legislation.
With the restrictions now backed by both coalition partners, Germany’s next steps are expected to focus on the mechanics: which platforms are covered, what proof of age is required, and how enforcement would work without creating new privacy risks. For now, the coalition’s growing consensus has put German social media curbs firmly on the national agenda.
