BERLIN

Germany’s co-governing Social Democratic Party (SPD) has called for the introduction of a social media ban for children under the age of 14.

A report by business daily Handelsblatt on Monday said the party proposes making age verification mandatory with the help of the “EUDI Wallet” app.

According to a policy paper of the center-left party, the core of the proposal is a regulation graded according to three age groups.

It proposed that there should be a complete ban on the use of social media platforms for children under the age of 14, with providers being obliged to “technically prevent access.”

Violations by the platforms would have to have rapid and noticeable consequences: “From immediate orders and severe sanctions to temporary restrictions or network blocks as a last resort.”

For those under the age of 16, however, a mandatory “youth version of the platforms” should apply. This would not have any addiction-enhancing features such as endless scrolling, automatic playback of content, or incentive systems that reward intensive or continuous use.

The youth version must also be without algorithmically controlled feeds and may no longer display personalized content.

The paper said young people under the age of 16 should only have access to Instagram and other social media platforms via their parents' or guardians' “EUDI Wallet” app. The app (EU Digital Identity Wallet) is a kind of digital wallet in which, for example, the parents' or guardians' ID cards and driver's licenses are stored.

For all citizens aged 16 and over – including adults – algorithmic recommendation systems on digital platforms should also be deactivated by default in the future. If users want to receive content suggestions from algorithms, they would have to consciously and actively opt in. According to the proposal, this age group would also have to verify their identity using the EUDI Wallet before using the service.

SPD leader stresses need to rethinking position

SPD chairman and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil told German Press Agency (dpa) that he is currently rethinking his position on internet freedom.

“A few years ago, we all emphasized the freedom of the internet and said that there should be no restrictions whatsoever. But now we see in the debates that something is happening in society, that young people are coming to me and saying we need clear rules on how to deal with social networks,” said Klingbeil. “We need restrictions when it comes to how we deal with social media and the internet, and we need to make decisions about that now.”