Germany’s Christian Democratic Union Backs Social Media Ban for Under-14s

Pressure from both parties in the coalition makes it increasingly likely that the federal government will push for a law on restrictions.

Social media apps displayed on a mobile phone screen on Jan. 3, 2018. Yui Mok/PA

Germany’s governing Christian Democratic Union (CDU) passed a motion at its party conference on Feb. 21 to ban social media for under-14s and introduce stricter digital verification checks for teenagers.

The CDU, led by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also called for fines against social networks that fail to enforce those age limits, as well as backing harmonization of social media age limits across the European Union’s 27 member states.