BERLIN — Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared his support for banning children under 16 from platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, marking a shift in his stance driven by evidence of online harms. Speaking ahead of his Christian Democratic Union party’s annual conference in Trier on Friday, Merz questioned whether society should allow artificially generated fake news, films and misrepresentations to spread unchecked on social media.

“Do we want our society undermined internally and externally, and our young people and children endangered this way?” Merz asked the crowd. He pointed to data showing 14-year-olds spend an average of five and a half hours daily online, fueling concerns over algorithms, artificial intelligence and targeted influences from both domestic and foreign sources.

Merz, who leads the conservative Christian Union, once viewed such restrictions skeptically. “Two years ago, I would have said something different,” he admitted. He now sees the risks as too grave, rejecting gradual exposure to social media as akin to teaching six-year-olds to drink alcohol.

The CDU conference will debate a motion for the under-16 ban, mirroring proposals from Merz’s center-left Social Democrat coalition partners. With backing from both sides of the government, federal action appears probable. Yet Germany’s federal structure complicates matters: media regulation falls to the states, which must negotiate uniform nationwide rules.

Merz’s comments echo a broader European push. Spain, Greece, France and Britain are considering similar bans or curbs, inspired by Australia. That country became the first globally last year to mandate platforms block access for children.

Domestic momentum has built steadily. Germany appointed a special commission last year to probe online risks to youth. Officials expect its report later this year, potentially shaping legislation.

Merz delivered his remarks during the CDU’s traditional Ash Wednesday rally on February 18, 2026, in Trier. The event set the stage for Friday’s policy discussions, where delegates will weigh the ban proposal amid rising parental and expert alarms over social media’s toll on mental health and vulnerability to disinformation.

Critics of unrestricted access highlight cases of cyberbullying, addiction and exposure to extremist content. Supporters of controls argue safeguards protect democracy itself from manipulation campaigns. Merz’s endorsement signals the coalition may soon test state-level consensus on enforceable limits.