Saxony: Age restriction for social media not based on Australian model

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Both the Saxon Ministry of Culture and the Saxon State Chancellery reject a blanket ban on social media for children and young people under the age of 16 based on the Australian model.

In the view of the Ministry of Culture, comprehensive skills development should ensure that children and young people "learn to deal confidently with the circumstances", reports dpa. The Saxon State Chancellery is in favor of reforming the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors from Harmful Media. This would mean that in future, parents would be able to set uniform age ratings for all apps on smartphones or tablets.

Media education and the will of parents

As the Ministry of Culture explained, bans and age limits could only provide relief in individual areas, in the short term and only from an adult perspective. Social media, on the other hand, should be discussed in the school community or in class. The State Chancellery told dpa that the enforceability of a ban is questionable, especially for older young people with established media habits.

Protection or isolation?

In November 2024, Australia became the first country in the world to ban children and young people under the age of 16 from accessing social networks on the internet. Even permission from a parent or guardian does not change the ban. Providers such as TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat can now test age verification systems in a trial phase – via biometric data or ID documents, for example. The results of the various test methods are to be evaluated in mid-2025. However, they are being criticized due to data protection concerns.

While Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese explained that social media would "keep young people away from real friends and real experiences", critics said that the ban could isolate children and young people.

DSA does not completely let corporations off the leash

The abolition of fact checks on major platforms such as Facebook and Instagram following the change of government in the USA is fueling discussions about the usefulness and dangers of social media. Fact checkers from Correctiv and dpa are currently still working for Meta in Germany. However, providers could also use other control mechanisms to comply with the EU's Digital Services Act.

(kbe)