Student Council Demands Youth Protection Without Social Media Bans

The Lower Saxony Student Council (Landesschülerrat), representing over 1.1 million students, is arguing against blanket social media bans in schools. Instead, the organization calls for improved media education and stronger accountability from social media platforms and parents.

Otto Ellerbrock, chairman of the Landesschülerrat, stated that young people should be involved in discussions about their digital lives, as social media has both risks and benefits. He believes the current debate is overly negative and does not reflect the reality that many young people use social media for educational and positive purposes.

Ellerbrock emphasizes that platform providers bear primary responsibility for enforcing rules, suggesting measures like age verification at the European level. He also advocates for mandatory, integrated media education for teachers to equip them with the skills to guide students in navigating digital spaces effectively.

The student council supports integrating media literacy into the school curriculum. While Ellerbrock personally favors no mobile phones in primary school, the council's overall stance is against outright bans, focusing instead on education and parental involvement to foster responsible online behavior. EU and federal German commissions are expected to release recommendations on child protection soon.