Australia as a Model: SPD Proposes Social Media Ban for Under-14s
OMR Team12/31/2025
Germany’s government party aims to curb algorithmic manipulation and addiction through mandatory digital IDs and a radical "opt-in" model for feeds
The SPD parliamentary group is bringing significant momentum to the debate on online youth protection with a new position paper, calling for a strict social media ban for children under 14. The aim of the initiative is to protect minors in Germany from the dangers of addiction, hate, and algorithmic manipulation by linking access to platforms like TikTok or Instagram to a state-issued digital identity for the first time.
How does the plan look in detail?
The proposed model envisions a three-tier regulation that intervenes deeply in the platforms' user experience. While a complete ban would apply to those under 14, the SPD plans a mandatory "youth version" of services for the 14-to-16 age group. These specialized app variants would have to function without personalized recommendation systems and without addictive features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, or gamification. Even for adults aged 16 and over, usage would change drastically: algorithmic feeds would be deactivated by default, meaning users would have to explicitly activate these functions via an opt-in.
How is it supposed to work?
The technical centerpiece of the plans is the introduction of the EUDI Wallet, a digital wallet for identity credentials. According to the SPD’s vision, teenagers under 16 would only be able to log in via their legal guardians' wallets, while older users would use their own digital ID. This would effectively end anonymous usage for minors. Platform operators would face the massive task of fundamentally retooling their login processes and verification interfaces by the planned start date in 2027.
A return to the "Classic" Social World
Behind the demand is the political goal of returning to the classic social media principle, where users primarily see content from profiles they actively follow. For advertisers and creators, this could mean the era of viral hits via algorithmic feeds would end for key target groups. The value of genuine community building and direct-to-consumer relationships would once again become decisive. At the same time, platforms face drastic consequences for systematic violations, ranging from heavy fines to network blocks as a last resort.
Global Momentum
With this move, Germany joins an international movement already making headlines in Australia, France, and Spain. While Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil and parts of the CDU (Union) prioritize protecting young people from the flood of hate and violence, resistance is also forming. Critics within the coalition, as well as from the opposition and academia, warn of a rigid ban that neglects media literacy and could easily be bypassed by tech-savvy youth. Nevertheless, the debate shows that the political consensus is tipping toward significantly stricter platform regulation.
What is the EU's role?
The SPD initiative is intended primarily as an impulse for the planned EU Digital Fairness Act, but sets a clear deadline of summer 2026 for a European agreement. If Brussels does not initiate comparable rules by then, the German government reserves the right to establish its own legislative framework. Whether the EUDI Wallet will truly become a digital firewall or merely increase the pressure for innovation on alternative platform concepts remains to be seen.