Lower Saxony pushes to ban under-14s from social media across Europe
Lower Saxony is calling for stricter rules to protect children from social media risks. State Premier Olaf Lies has warned that minors lack defences against addictive platform features. The proposal includes banning access for under-14s and tightening age checks across Europe. The push for change comes as concerns grow over the impact of social media on young users. Lies emphasised the need for stronger safeguards, arguing that current protections are insufficient. His government wants platforms to block children under 14 entirely.
The federal government is also taking action. It has urged the EU to enforce mandatory age verification, particularly since many social media firms operate from Ireland. On July 14, 2025, the EU Commission unveiled a blueprint for age checks that let users prove they are over 18 without sharing personal details. This system would integrate with the future EU Digital Identity Wallet.
Meanwhile, the UK has already introduced stricter rules. Since July 2025, its Online Safety Act requires adult-content platforms to verify users' ages. Regulators in Germany, Ireland, and the UK have now set a deadline of April 30, 2026, for tech companies to submit plans for better age checks and safer recommendation algorithms.
European Affairs Minister Melanie Walter supports a unified approach. She proposed using the EUDI Wallet to create a Europe-wide age verification system. For adolescents aged 16 and under, access should be restricted to age-appropriate content, free from addictive algorithms and AI-driven recommendations. The proposals would force social media providers to adopt privacy-conscious age checks. If implemented, under-14s in Lower Saxony could lose access entirely, while older teens would face stricter content controls. The EU's blueprint and upcoming deadlines suggest tighter regulations are on the way.
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