On 11 September 2026, the expert commission on ‘Protecting Children and Young People in the Digital World’, set up by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, submitted its final report, containing 56 recommendations for action, to Federal Minister Karin Prien. She presented a key points paper to the Federal Cabinet on 14 October 2026. This document sets out initial measures to implement the expert commission’s recommendations for action.
Legislative measures
In the legislative sphere, the Ministry plans, as part of the consultations on the EU KIDS Act, to work towards ensuring that young people under the age of 13 do not have access to social media, that providers of such services are obliged to design their platforms securely (safety-by-design), and that requirements from the guidelines under Article 28 of the Digital Services Act are enshrined directly in the EU KIDS Act.
As the Federal Government expects the negotiations to take some time before the EU KIDS Act is adopted, an interim provision will be introduced at national level. Accordingly, a minimum age of 13 for the use of social media is to be included in the Youth Protection Act. There will be an exemption from this rule for services that are proven to be safe for children. Between the ages of 13 and 18, a graduated approach to the use of such services is to be introduced.
The Child and Youth Welfare Act (SGB VIII) is to emphasise that its remit also extends to young people’s participation in the digital environment. The promotion of young people’s media literacy, as well as support for parents in this regard as part of family education, should therefore be newly incorporated into the Act. Through an amendment to the Civil Code parents should also be made aware that they are responsible for the personal care of their children in the digital environment as well.
Further measures
In addition, the Federal Government intends to work towards ensuring that any fines imposed by the European Commission on digital service providers can be channelled directly towards programmes for the protection and wellbeing of children and young people.
A nationwide campaign on the protection of children and young people in the digital environment is planned, aimed in particular at raising awareness amongst parents of pre-school children of the risks posed by digital media and informing them of the support available. For primary school children, an age-appropriate programme is to be introduced to promote a basic understanding of artificial intelligence (known as the ‘AI Seahorse’ certificate). To promote media literacy amongst children, young people and adults, a database is to be set up, amongst other measures, to provide access to the wide range of relevant programmes and materials. Child-friendly online services are also to be expanded and further developed.
To enable children and young people to report incidents in the digital environment to the police more quickly, the federal states are to set up an ‘online police station for children’. To protect against cyber-grooming, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Criminal Police Office intend to take appropriate measures, including the possible use of undercover operations to pose as children.
From next year, the Federal Government will make the EUDI Wallet available as a means of age verification to enable access to age-appropriate content and features.
To jointly strengthen and further develop the protection of children and young people in the digital world, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs will also initiate a structured dialogue with the federal states and conferences of responsible ministers.