BKA President Holger Münch Calls for Stricter Social Media Regulations for Children

Holger Münch, President of the Federal Criminal Police Office, called on Saturday for stricter consequences for social media platform operators in the ongoing German debate over a potential ban on children's access to social networks. Münch told newspapers of the Funke Mediengruppe that it is apparently "the business model" of large online companies "that one only does what one has to do." He argued that lawmakers must more clearly define when platforms are required to report content to police, adding that those who do not comply with laws "must expect consequences." Münch also judged that so far there has been no real protection of minors on social networks. He called on legislators and platform operators to jointly determine which apps, functions, and content are suitable for young people and what should be blocked for children entirely.

Radicalization risk drives BKA chief's position Münch said he considers the broader debate over a social media ban for children and adolescents in Germany to be justified, citing the danger of radicalization of minors as a key concern. He noted that young people receive extreme and violence-glorifying content pushed into their profiles, while operators "hardly delete any criminal content." The BKA chief's remarks reflect growing unease among German law enforcement about the role of unmoderated platforms in exposing minors to harmful material. His call for clearer legal obligations on platforms goes beyond the question of age limits alone, targeting the enforcement gap between existing rules and actual platform behavior. The statement positions the BKA as a voice in a policy debate that has until now been dominated by politicians and digital regulators. Germany has debated youth protection on digital platforms for several years, with concerns spanning cyberbullying, radicalization, and exposure to violent content. Australia moved ahead of most Western nations by introducing a social media ban for users under 16 in December 2025, drawing international attention to the policy option. In Germany, the CDU backed a minimum age of 14 for platforms such as TikTok and Instagram in February 2026, while the SPD presented a graduated model for fixed age limits.

Digital Minister Wildberger warns of brain damage risk in teens Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger, a CDU member and Germany's first-ever holder of the newly created Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization, entered the debate with a warning about the health consequences of unchecked social media use. Wildberger told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung that excessive social media consumption by adolescents "can cause enormous damage to the brain in the medium term." He argued that the state carries a duty of care to ensure young people can develop well, framing the issue as one of public health as much as digital policy. „What it is about: Excessive social media consumption by adolescent people can cause enormous damage to the brain in the medium term. The state also has a duty of care so that young people can develop well.” — Karsten Wildberger via Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung Wildberger cautioned, however, that the debate must not revolve around a ban as the only available option, pointing to regulation, strict rules, and default settings for platforms or smartphones as alternative tools.

Education and regulation offered as alternatives to outright ban Wildberger emphasized that education must accompany any regulatory approach, stating that the state cannot replace that function through a ban alone. He acknowledged that in a weighing of interests, an age limit "can be one way," but stopped short of endorsing a blanket prohibition. The positions of Münch and Wildberger together reflect a German policy debate that is moving toward firmer action but has not yet converged on a single model. The CDU's February proposal for a minimum age of 14 and the SPD's graduated model represent the two main legislative directions under discussion. Australia's December 2025 ban for under-16s continues to serve as the primary international reference point for German policymakers assessing the practical feasibility of age-based restrictions. Social media age limit debate — key events: — ; — ; — ; —