German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced his “sympathy” for a proposal to ban social media use for children under 14, ahead of discussions among governing politicians starting Friday
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced his “sympathy” for a proposal to ban social media use for children under 14, ahead of discussions among governing politicians starting Friday, according to a Politico report.
Calls for restricting social media access to minors are gaining momentum in Germany, following similar moves in other European countries aimed at safeguarding children’s mental and physical health.
According to Politico, Merz told the Machtwechsel podcast on Wednesday that he has “a lot of sympathy” for a proposal by the Social Democratic Party, outlined in a discussion paper.
While emphasising that he is “very, very, very cautious when it comes to legal bans on something like this [social media],” Merz said the “consequences” of fake news, AI-generated images, and platforms like TikTok make the issue increasingly complex.
“Protecting children at school must come first,” he said, dismissing the argument that early exposure to digital tools is essential.
“Otherwise you would also have to serve alcohol in primary school so they get used to it,” Merz added.
Members Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have also voiced support for a social media ban for children.
Thorsten Frei, head of the chancellery and senior CDU official, told Politico the issue will be debated at the party conference in Stuttgart on Friday and Saturday.
Other parties backing age limits include the Greens and the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) opposes the measure, arguing that it prioritises control over children’s wellbeing.
A government-appointed expert panel is expected to issue policy recommendations before the summer.
Across Europe, similar moves are underway.
France and Denmark have already enacted laws restricting social media for younger children, while Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently announced a ban for under-16s.
Several other EU countries are considering comparable proposals, with Greece pushing for coordinated EU-level action.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has convened a panel of experts to advise on the matter.
Child rights and privacy advocates caution that bans may fail to shield children from online harms, while limiting their access to information and potentially weakening broader digital privacy protections.
With inputs from agencies
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