Germany Considers Banning Social Media for Most Children
Germany is considering banning social media for most children. What’s driving the debate, and how could it impact young people and online safety?
The debate over social media use by teens is raging on. In the U.S., Meta and Google were just handed back-to-back losses in lawsuits against them. Germany is looking to ban social media, or at least make it harder to access, for young people, something Australia did last year. From Berlin, special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports on warnings from psychologists for the younger generation.
View the transcript of the story.
Note: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
Warm-Up Questions
- Where (what country) does this segment examine?
- Why do some teens feel sad or depressed after using social media, according to the three girls interviewed for this story and their teacher?
- How many hours do under-14s spend online each day in Germany (see here for stats in the U.S.)?
- What are some of the arguments for and against social media bans for children and teenagers included in this story?
- When did Australia ban social media for young children and teens?
Essential Questions
- Do you support a ban on social media for young children and teenagers or think these age groups should be made to use it less? Why or why not?
- What do you think would be the most effective measures for limiting the harms of social media on young children and teens?
- Do you think more legislation (i.e. fixing the algorithms or how the companies feed you certain content) needs to be passed that make social media companies take more responsibility for how teens use their platforms? Explain.
Media literacy: News Hour's Malcolm Brabant states: "This 21st century version of prohibition is a timely subject for the English class of teacher Dhara Chaikh." Why do you think Brabant makes the analogy of social media bans to alcohol bans of the 1920s? Do you think it's an accurate comparison? Explain.
What Students Can Do
Watch the video below to learn more about how Australia's social media ban is impacting young children and teenagers and their families. Australia was the first country to implement a ban last year, setting an example that other nations are now closely monitoring. Discuss with a family member or friend:
- How has social media has impacted your life or someone you know?
- What do you think could be done to prevent teens from workarounds that still allow them to access social media sites?
- What should the role of parents/guardians be in the social media use of their children?
- Do you think programs teaching families about media literacy or digital literacy would be helpful?
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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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