For many children and adolescents in Germany, using social media has long become part of everyday life. However, intensive or addictive patterns of use can negatively affect psychological, emotional, and social well-being, potentially leading to symptoms of depression and anxiety, attention difficulties, or sleep problems.
Against this background, the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina released the discussion paper “Social Media and the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents” on 13 August 2025. The authors advocate applying the precautionary principle and provide concrete recommendations to better protect children and adolescents from the risks associated with social media.
Social media affects mental health
According to current research, there are clear links between intensive social media use and psychological strain. Therefore, the authors recommend, among other measures, prohibiting social media accounts for children under 13, requiring parental consent for 13- to 15-year-olds, and designing social networks in an age-appropriate way for 13- to 17-year-olds, for example by limiting algorithmic suggestions. Additionally, they suggest that smartphones should not be used in kindergartens and schools up to grade 10.
Recommendations for implementation and prevention
Potential regulations could be advanced at the EU level. The planned introduction of the data protection-compliant EUDI-Wallet, for instance, could enable a digital age verification system.
To promote a more conscious use of social media, the authors recommend implementing a mandatory digital education curriculum in kindergartens and schools. At the same time, it is important to strengthen the competencies of teaching and educational staff so that they can recognize risky or addictive usage patterns early and respond appropriately. Complementary public health campaigns should provide families with accessible information about the potential effects of social media on mental health and offer guidance for positive, healthy usage. Further research is also necessary to better understand the mechanisms of social media use in this age group and to evaluate the effectiveness of protective measures.
The full Leopoldina discussion paper is available here.
Source: Ruhr University Bochum
Related DZPG press release: Mental well-being throughout the summer holidays: DZPG warns against excessive media consumption in children
