Education Expert: 16-Year Age Limit for Social Media Has Failed

Education researcher Olaf Köller has delivered a harsh assessment of Australia's six-month-old ban on social media for individuals under 16 years of age. "One clearly notices how not to do it," Köller stated, referencing studies indicating that a majority of younger users continue to access social networks, often by providing false ages after account blocks. He anticipates a similar outcome should such a ban be implemented in Germany or Europe.

Köller, a co-chair of the expert commission established by the German government, advocates for a phased approach to social media access, starting at age 13. The commission's report emphasizes that "protection must not result in general exclusion." For users under 16, it proposes restricted features, such as the absence of endless feeds, push notifications, and personalized advertising.

Furthermore, Köller highlighted the necessity for effective and privacy-compliant age verification technology to prevent the circumvention of age limits. He views the upcoming European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) as a potential solution, an app designed for digital identification without revealing personal data, with a planned German launch in early 2027.

The media authority Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein (MA HSH), responsible for social media oversight, shares the view that a 16-year-old age limit is not an effective solution. The authority believes a tiered model would compel platforms to implement necessary technical and protective measures for young users, rather than a general prohibition leading to minimal changes in platform structures.