Overview
- Schleswig‑Holstein’s Daniel Günther escalated his call for a nationwide ban, warning society is headed “into the abyss,” pushing for rapid action and even floating a cutoff under 18 with a majority he says is achievable in Bundestag and Bundesrat.
- Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern’s Manuela Schwesig pressed the federal experts’ commission on child digital safety to deliver recommendations before summer to accelerate potential legislation.
- Saxony will expand its school handset ban to pupils up to grade 8 after the summer break, and education minister Conrad Clemens backs a national minimum age of 14 for social media.
- North Rhine‑Westphalia’s families minister Verena Schäffer proposed a binding age‑14 threshold with tougher obligations and sanctions for platforms under EU rules rather than penalties for children, as some CSU voices remain wary and Ilse Aigner signals support.
- International models diverge, with the UK House of Commons voting down an under‑16 ban, Australia enforcing removals of under‑16 accounts with heavy fines, and India’s Karnataka announcing plans for an under‑16 ban.