Paediatricians in Germany are escalating calls for banning social media for under-16s and implementing stricter protective measures, amid rising mental health issues among youth linked to digital platforms.
Paediatricians in Germany are pressing for stronger protection of children and teenagers from social media, saying parents are failing to shield them from platforms they believe are worsening mental health. Jakob Maske, the national spokesman for the paediatricians’ association BVKJ, told the Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung that problems in his surgery are becoming more severe almost every day. “Children can hardly escape the intense influence on the platforms, and it is almost impossible for teenagers to form an independent opinion,” he said.
The wider medical profession is backing that demand with growing urgency. According to a BVKJ committee focused on adolescent medicine, there has been a marked rise in psychosomatic illness, psychological strain and school absence among young people, prompting calls for more psychosocial support and additional therapy places. At the same time, the 130th German Medical Congress has urged tighter rules for digital platforms, including a ban on social media use for under-16s, arguing that operators should do more to protect minors from addictive algorithms, harmful content, cyberbullying and grooming.
Other medical bodies are making similar arguments. The Berlin Medical Association has called for stronger safeguards after warning that social media can expose children and adolescents to distorted beauty ideals, violence, hate messages and cyberbullying, with knock-on effects including low self-image, depression and anxiety disorders. The debate reflects a broader concern among doctors that while digital media can be useful, excessive and unregulated use is increasingly carrying health risks for the young.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
