On 4 September 2025, Federal Youth Minister Karin Prien, together with the two co-chairs Prof. Dr. Olaf Köller and Nadine Schön, presented the expert commission ‘Protecting Children and Young People in the Digital World’ at the Federal Press Conference. The commission will begin its work in autumn 2025 and is expected to submit concrete proposals for action by the end of summer 2026.
The aim of the commission is to develop a strategy for ‘protecting children and young people in the digital world’ with specific recommendations for action for the relevant stakeholders, such as the federal government, the states and civil society. Among other things, the commission will address the necessary conditions for a safe digital environment for children and young people, the health consequences of media consumption, and the strengthening of media literacy among children, young people, parents and professionals.
Federal Youth Minister Karin Prien called the effective protection of children and young people in the digital world ‘the main challenge of our time’. Her goal is to create a digital environment in which young people can grow up safely and flourish freely. The expert commission is tasked with laying the groundwork for decisive action. ‘We are deliberately focusing on ensuring that the commission is scientifically interdisciplinary and involves experts from the field, and that all levels of government and relevant stakeholders are involved from the very beginning,’ said Karin Prien.
‘The digital world opens up enormous opportunities for children and young people in terms of education, creativity and participation – but at the same time, it also presents serious risks that we as a society must address responsibly,’ emphasised the Commission’s co-chair, Nadine Schön. She referred to the combined scientific expertise and diverse perspectives that come together in the Commission. ‘The commission will also draw on the experience and valuable knowledge of other stakeholders, as well as the perspective of the younger generation itself. Our goal is to work together to identify ways in which it is possible to grow up healthily and safely in the digital world.’ Prof. Dr. Olaf Köller, also co-chair of the commission, wants to define the competent usage of digital media by young people as a core educational goal. ‘It is important to explain the opportunities and risks to them and also to protect them to a certain extent from the dangers of the internet.’
A state advisory council will involve the federal states in the commission's work. The Independent Federal Commissioner Against Child Sexual Abuse Issues (UBSKM), the Commisisoner of the Federal Government for Drug and Addiction Policy and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media will also participate as observers. In addition, there are plans to involve other experts from the relevant fields, civil society, the Broadcasting Commission of the Federal States and young people through appropriate participation formats.
With a total of 16 experts and two chairpersons from academia and practice, the commission boasts broad, interdisciplinary competence and expertise.