Youth Protection Commission warns politicians against social media bans

In the heated debate about stricter age limits and bans for social media platforms, a conflict between political activism and scientific thoroughness is emerging. State premiers from the north are particularly pushing for a quick legal reform. However, the expert commission on child and youth protection in the digital world, convened specifically for this purpose, urges caution.

Nadine Schön, who heads the committee together with educational researcher Olaf Köller, uses clear words: The former CDU Bundestag member advises politicians to let the experts work in peace. Only then can they present a well-founded overall concept.

The pressure on the commission has increased enormously. Driven by position papers from the SPD and resolutions from the most recent CDU party congress, far-reaching restrictions are being demanded – such as a complete ban on social networks for children under 14 years of age and algorithm-free youth versions up to 16. However, the divide runs across the parliamentary groups. For example, the CSU state group in the Bundestag has already warned that purely ban-oriented debates often miss the digital reality.

Between scientific ambition and time pressure

Schön defends the original timeline, which provides for the results to be submitted by summer. In an interview with Tagesspiegel, she points out that the 16 high-caliber members of the interdisciplinary commission are carrying out this complex task on a voluntary basis alongside their other commitments.

A certain amount of respect for this commitment and the time investment of the experts is therefore appropriate, Schön demands. An arbitrary shortening of the processes is hardly possible, as the mandate goes far beyond the discussion of a minimum age and the associated comprehensive age controls on the internet.

According to Schön, it is about protection, empowerment, and participation in the digital world. To achieve this goal, the commission is conducting expert hearings and places great importance on the broad participation of children and young people themselves. Nevertheless, the committee shows itself to be willing to compromise: Originally, the entire package was planned to be published in September. Now, the commission has decided to bring forward initial concrete recommendations for action and the assessment of youth media protection to meet political expectations before the parliamentary summer recess.

Role models of parents and technical solutions

Schön warns against singling out individual aspects, such as the social media ban. The proposed solutions must interlock to be effective. A central point of the commission's work is the role of parents. It is often overlooked in the debate that many adults themselves have difficulty resisting the pull of platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Therefore, the focus on bans for minors is too narrow for the co-chairwoman if the empowerment of guardians is not strengthened at the same time.

Schön herself uses a technical time budget for social media. As soon as this is used up, relevant apps are blocked. This form of self-regulation works surprisingly well for her and underscores that technical aids and personal discipline must go hand in hand.

(vbr)