SPD Faction Wants Social Media Ban for Under-14s - Lower Saxony SPD unveils bold plans for housing, digital safety and democracy
The SPD parliamentary group in Lower Saxony has outlined its key political goals for the coming year. Four main areas will shape their agenda: local government, economic growth, digital safety, and democratic education. A newly published impulse paper details their plans for stricter social media rules and long-term housing targets.
On local government, the group wants to invest €14.5 billion to strengthen councils and reduce red tape for volunteers. They argue that cutting bureaucracy will make it easier for people to get involved in community work.
In the economy, the state has set a target of building 140,000 affordable homes by 2040. The SPD also plans to simplify planning laws to speed up construction and encourage growth.
For digital spaces, the faction is pushing for tighter controls on social media. Their proposals include banning users under 14, creating youth-friendly versions for 14- to 16-year-olds, and removing addictive features like endless scrolling. They also want platforms to label AI-generated content clearly and offer algorithm-free homepages by default. Stricter penalties for hate speech and better support for intelligence agencies are part of the plan.
On democracy, the group is calling for changes at both state and federal levels. They want democratic education introduced in primary schools, including student councils for younger pupils. The SPD is also urging the state government to use the Bundesrat to push for federal reforms that protect democratic institutions.
The proposals would see Lower Saxony adopt some of the strictest social media rules in Germany. If implemented, the plans could reshape housing policy, digital regulation, and civic education in the state. Other regions, such as Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate, have already signalled openness to similar child protection measures.
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