Children and Social Media: Between Symbolic Politics and Systemic Regulation

In the current issue of MMR (08/26), JProf. Dr. Kaesling addresses the debate over a blanket ban on social media for minors in her opinion piece and argues for placing greater emphasis on the existing European regulatory framework.

In her opinion piece, JProf. Dr. Kaesling points out that the Digital Services Act (DSA) takes a risk-based approach designed to provide differentiated protection for minors tailored to the specific risks posed by digital services. Accordingly, the specific risks a digital service poses to minors—such as through its design, recommendation systems, moderation practices, advertising, or data handling—are decisive. Against this backdrop, a blanket ban on social media falls short and risks simultaneously excluding children and adolescents from digital participation.

Instead of relying on blanket age limits, the paper therefore advocates for the consistent application and further development of the DSA’s tools. This also incorporates the recommendations for action from the BMBFSFJ Expert Commission dated June 24, 2026, as well as the Leopoldina discussion paper from July 2025.

You can find the statement here.