Digital Verification for Teenagers Tightened Fines Imposed on Non-Compliant Social Media Companies

The ruling party in Germany on Saturday approved a proposal to ban the use of social media platforms for children under 14, while tightening digital verification procedures for teenagers, in a move reflecting growing European concern for protecting minors online.

During a party conference in Stuttgart, the Christian Democratic Union, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also called for fines on social media companies that do not comply with these restrictions, in addition to unifying age standards across the European Union.

Several other European countries, including Spain, Greece, France, and the United Kingdom, are considering similar restrictions on access to platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, inspired by the Australian experience, which last year became the first country to require companies to restrict children's access to content.

This European escalation comes at a time of tension with the United States, where former President Donald Trump threatened sanctions or tariffs if EU countries imposed new taxes on American tech companies or adopted regulatory rules affecting their operations.

The proposal approved today states: "We call on the federal government to set a legal age for using social networks at 14 years, taking into account special digital protection up to 16 years."

It is noteworthy that Germany's federal system grants each state independent regulatory authority over media, requiring coordination among states to ensure consistent rules nationwide.