BERLIN, Feb 18 (GeokHub) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has endorsed growing calls for mandatory limits on children’s access to social media platforms, citing concerns over fake news, artificial intelligence-driven manipulation, and online harm.
Speaking ahead of the annual conference of his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Merz said he had become increasingly convinced that compulsory restrictions were necessary.
“Do we want to allow artificially generated false news, fake news, artificially generated films and misrepresentations to be spread via social media?” Merz asked in his speech. He warned that such content could undermine society and endanger young people, noting that 14-year-olds in Germany spend an average of five and a half hours online each day.
Proposed Ban for Under-16s
Delegates at the CDU party conference are expected to debate a motion proposing a ban on access to platforms such as TikTok and Instagram for children under 16. Similar calls have been voiced by Merz’s coalition partners in the centre-left Social Democratic Party.
Merz dismissed suggestions that children could be gradually introduced to social media instead of imposing strict limits, comparing the argument to teaching six-year-olds to consume alcohol responsibly.
Germany joins a broader European debate on social media restrictions for minors. Countries including Spain, Greece, France and United Kingdom are considering similar measures. Australia last year became the first country to require platforms to block children’s access nationwide.
Merz acknowledged that his stance had evolved. “Two years ago, I would probably have said something different,” he said, citing what he described as the underestimated impact of algorithms, artificial intelligence, and targeted influence campaigns — both domestic and foreign.
