Sound the Alarm: Daniel Günther Proposes Social Media Ban for Kids Under 16
Urges Complete Social Media Ban for Minors Under Age 16 (Daniel Günther's statement)
Hear me out, folks! Shleswig-Holstein's Minister-President Daniel Günther ain't playing games. In an interview with "Bild am Sonntag," Günther laid down the law - he's calling for a ban on social media for kiddos under 16. Turns out, parents ain't got a clue about what their kids are seeing on these platforms!
"Be frank, we've let the guard down in recent years," Günther stated. "So, now's the time to turn things around! Let's keep our young ones off TikTok and all social media til they're 16!"
Brit's Got Trouble: Dangerous TikTok Challenges Cause Kids to Ingest Magnets It's no secret, Günther's talking about a crucial motion that his CDU state association's gonna vote on in mid-June. It ain't just about banning social media, though - it's about stricter control of these platforms altogether.
"Truth is, social media is a doorway to all sorts of nasty stuff," Günther ranted. "It's filled with content glorifying violence, shows sexualized violence, and spreads lies! Kids get overwhelmed, and parents got no clue what their kids are dealing with."
Speak up, Prien: Federal Education and Family Minister Karin Prien, a fellow CDU member, echoes Günther's sentiments. To "Welt am Sonntag," she asserted, "Right now, children and youngsters are exposed to violent, pornographic, and extremist content on the internet with no protection! If folks claim this can happen without regulation, they're feeding folks a line!"
She made it clear - hers is all about the kids, "We don't let our children into brothels or liquor stores! This ain't about curbing free speech - it's about safeguarding our kids!"
Source: ntv.de, as/dpa
Crucial Considerations:
- Daniel Günther: Shleswig-Holstein's Minister-President, advocating for stricter age regulations for social media access.
- Karin Prien: Germany's Federal Education and Family Minister, supporting age-based social media regulations.
- Social Media: Online platforms where people communicate and share content.
- TikTok: A popular social media app primarily used for short-form videos.
- Children: Young individuals, particularly under the age of 16.
- Violence: Aggressive behavior that may cause physical harm.
- Extremism: Views or actions that deviate from mainstream and are especially severe, extreme, or radical in nature.
- CDU: Christian Democratic Union, a conservative political party in Germany.
- Schleswig-Holstein: One of Germany's 16 federal states.
- Youth Protection: Measures aimed at safeguarding young individuals from harmful content or activities.
Context:
Research shows that young people are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of social media. A study from Britain points towards a higher prevalence of psychological illness among youth who are active on social media platforms. Enforcing age regulations for access to such platforms could potentially reduce the exposure of minors to harmful content, but it may face challenges in terms of enforcement, effectiveness, and educational aspects.
The Commission is proposing to extend the deadline for the submission of policies and legislation regarding youth protection on social media platforms, considering the concerns raised by authorities like Daniel Günther and Karin Prien. This extension could provide an opportunity for discussions on education-and-self-development programs that help parents and children navigate these platforms safely. In the general news, these debates highlight the growing influence of politics in shaping policy for the benefit of society's most vulnerable members, particularly the youth.
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