Stuttgart – The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party convention concluded Saturday with a broad consensus in favor of regulating social media use for children and young people. The CDU is calling on the German federal government to introduce a statutory age limit of 14 years for the use of social networks and to develop provisions to address the particular need for protection up to the age of 16 in the digital sphere.
A proposal for a digital levy and a requirement for real-name verification were referred to the CDU parliamentary group for further consideration. The adopted resolution represents a compromise between proponents and opponents of more extensive regulation within the CDU.
Age Verification via Digital ID
According to information obtained by BILD, leading politicians including Family Minister Karin Prien (60), Thuringia’s Minister President Mario Voigt (49), and Ronja Kemmer (36), Deputy Chairwoman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, decided on the eve of the convention to split the original proposal. Instead of initially planning to prohibit access to networks like Instagram for those under 16, the focus will now be on those under 14. Access to social media will be excluded for those under 14, with access for those between 14 and 16 subject to certain pre-settings. For those 16 and over, algorithms that suggest videos or other content will be deactivated and must be activated by the user.
Prien told BILD: “In practice, age should be verified via the ID Wallet.” This means that anyone setting up an Instagram or TikTok account would have to prove their age via the digital wallet.
SPD Too Supports Ban
The CDU resolution goes further, stating that “substantial fines for platform operators” should be imposed for systematic or negligent circumvention of age verification. Repeated violations should be penalized “up to and including temporary restrictions on use for the providers.” The CDU also advocates for EU-wide harmonization of regulations to prevent circumvention via other member states.
With this decision, two parties in the governing coalition – the CDU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) – now support a ban on social media. SPD parliamentary group leader Dirk Wiese (42) stated that he welcomes the CDU’s alignment with their position and that a concrete law should be passed quickly by the German Bundestag.
Kubicki: Leads to “Maximum Control of All Citizens”
Sharp criticism came from FDP Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki (73), who called the demand “pure populism.” He argued that the focus should be on enabling young people to use media appropriately, not keeping them in maximum immaturity. Kubicki believes that plans like those of the CDU would ultimately lead to “maximum control of all citizens,” and that politicians are “neither our educators nor those of our children.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proposed age limit for social media use?
The CDU is calling for a statutory age limit of 14 years for the use of social networks.
How would age be verified?
According to information from BILD, age verification would be done via the ID Wallet, a digital identity app.
What penalties are proposed for platforms that violate the rules?
Platforms could face substantial fines for systematic or negligent circumvention of age verification, and repeated violations could lead to temporary restrictions on use.
As this proposal moves forward, what impact will it have on the way young people access and interact with social media platforms?
