“Expert Commission on the Protection of Children and Young People in the Digital World” publishes recommendations for action

The Bundesjugendring welcomes the fact that the recommendations for action are not limited to a debate on bans or a simplistic discussion of age limits on social media platforms. Instead, they offer a more nuanced examination of young people’s digital lives from the perspective of protection, empowerment and participation.

On the one hand, the catalogue of recommendations highlights how policymakers can sustainably combine protection, participation and empowerment through proportionate measures. On the other hand, it also contains proposals that steer the political focus towards supposedly simple solutions, such as the enforcement of age limits on social media platforms. The Bundesjugendring firmly rejects such measures, as they disproportionately exclude young people from digital spaces.
Such restrictions are unnecessary if recommendations for action are implemented that focus on the effective regulation of platforms and the sustainable strengthening of educational, youth welfare and support structures for children and young people.