Soziale Medien: „Wir müssen nichts hinnehmen, was süchtig macht“ – EU kündigt Social-Media-Verbot für Kinder an

In a move to protect children and adolescents from the potential addictive nature of social media, the European Union has announced plans to legally restrict access for young users. German EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined these intentions during her recent address in Strasbourg. Von der Leyen emphasized that social media platforms draw children deeply into endless scrolling, effectively monopolizing their attention.

According to von der Leyen, children under 13 years old should not be allowed to use social media at all, while those aged 15 and above should only be able to create their own accounts with parental or educational supervision. The duration of usage is also to be limited. This proposed legislation goes beyond the recommendations made by an expert commission, which had also suggested a staged model but placed the age limit at 13 years old.

Studies have highlighted the risks associated with extensive social media consumption, particularly for youth. These risks include mental health conditions such as depression, attention disorders, and eating disorders. On average, youth spend between four to six hours per day on social networks, often even during nighttime hours. The expert group focused not only on social media access but also on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), for which age restrictions would also apply.

While the EU has been cautious about implementing a minimum age for social media like Australia, France's President Emmanuel Macron has been a significant advocate for this issue. In recent months, the EU Commission has introduced an app that can verify users' ages when linking to social media platforms. This app only provides the age range, not the exact age, to ensure the privacy of young users. Upon receiving the EU's technical framework, all member countries can then develop and utilize country-specific apps.

Meanwhile, von der Leyen addressed Big Tech, acknowledging the overwhelming power these companies hold. "I am aware that for many, the power of Big Tech is almost overwhelming," she stated. "Impossible to counteract. I see it differently." Social media platforms are still subject to the regulations of the "Digital Services Act," which aims to make these platforms safer.

Von der Leyen reiterated the importance of not accepting features that manipulate users into addiction, saying, "We must not accept functionalities that make people addicted."