German Psychologists' Association Calls for Social Media Regulation
The German Psychologists' Association (BDP) demands legislation to protect children and adolescents by regulating social media use. The association states that unrestricted use harms young people's mental health and social skills.
Berlin – The German Psychologists' Association (BDP) is calling for more effective regulation of social media use to protect children and adolescents. A resolution adopted by the association's delegate conference in April 2026 states that unrestricted social media use causes significant harm to the psychological and social development of young people.
The BDP emphasizes that there is sufficient scientific evidence of social media's detrimental effects, including depression, attention deficits, and limited social competence, to warrant immediate action. The professional association advocates for the precautionary principle and calls for increased research in this area.
The association believes platform operators should be held responsible for age-appropriate content and algorithmic functions. BDP proposes that state authorities should regulate and supervise platforms, compelling operators to transparently disclose the logic and effects of their algorithms. Furthermore, the introduction of an age verification system, respecting data protection, is suggested.
The resolution also includes other proposals, such as a nationwide ban on smartphone use in schools up to the tenth grade, citing positive experiences in some states and countries. The professional association also suggests public health campaigns for parents and enhanced media literacy training for educators and students.