Berlin – September 12, 2026 -- German Education Minister Karin Prien is preparing cabinet proposals for an age restriction on social media platforms, citing a direct link between screen time and Germany's weak PISA test results.
Prien ties declining literacy to social media use
Speaking on rbb24 Inforadio on Wednesday, the CDU politician said children's shrinking attention spans, lack of endurance, and inability to read for comprehension are connected to social media and screen time. She argued the digital and AI era demands stronger safeguards against declining critical thinking among students.
Cabinet proposal expected within weeks
Prien confirmed she will present concrete legislative proposals to the German cabinet in the coming weeks, combining an age restriction with expanded media literacy education in schools.
Minister calls for EU-wide age verification standard
Prien said no solution can bypass an effective age restriction paired with reliable age verification systems for platform access. She stated the goal is to block addictive and harmful content from reaching minors, calling the issue an area of the highest regulatory urgency and signaling a preference for a coordinated European approach rather than a Germany-only measure.