German Minister mulls social media ban for children

German Minister mulls social media ban for children

German Minister for Digital Affairs Karsten Wildberger has expressed openness to a social media ban for children like the one in Australia, he told dpa in Berlin. “I can see a lot of merit in that. I consider the question of an age restriction to be more than justified,” he said. “So now the question is: How do we enable them to have a healthy development, like earlier generations had without social media?" Wildberger, former head of the tech big box store conglomerate MediaMarktSaturn, is Germanys first-ever digital affairs minister. Australia's social media ban for those under age 16 took effect on December 10 and has since sprouted discussions in many countries about whether to follow. The Australian law makes it illegal for those under 16 to hold their own accounts on many social media platforms. Canberra said it aims to protect young people from cyberbullying, problematic usage and distressing content. Studies, reports and observations show how profoundly social media intervenes in the development of young people. Referring to an expert commission appointed by the German government on Child and Youth Protection in the Digital Age, Wildberger said there needs to be a discussion on what the right age is for young people to engage with social media. The panel of academics and practitioners, which come in part from the fields of medicine and youth protection services, began its work a few months ago and is expected to develop recommendations by the summer. This includes, among other things, possible age limits as well as the much-debated issue of banning mobile phones in schools. “Sitting down for an hour or two, being attentive, and not being distracted by things is a basic prerequisite for development. In that sense, I think this is not only reasonable, but we also owe it to children to give them that opportunity,” Wildberger said, adding that it is important to listen to teachers who deal with this every day.

German Red Cross sees nearly 20% drop in donations this year

German Red Cross sees nearly 20% drop in donations this year

People in Germany are less willing to donate, figures from the German Red Cross (DRK) showed, with donations down by about €10 million so far this year, the Rheinische Post reported in a story to be published on Saturday, reported dpa. This year, donations are expected to be just under €40 million, compared to around €49 million in 2024. This corresponds to a decline of around 18%. At the end of November, the German Donations Council reported a decline in donations in the first nine months of the year, the story, made available to dpa, showed. The drop makes for a difficult situation "as it has direct consequences for people in need," the Rheinische Post quoted DRK President Hermann Gröhe as saying. The Donations Council sees one reason for the decline in the total amount as being that the budgets of many households are constrained by inflation, high living costs or high care costs. In addition, many global crises have led to a certain degree of exhaustion. Figures for the whole year will be more meaningful as many organizations receive a large part of their donations during the Christmas season. According to the German Donations Council, people donated just under €2.8 billion in the first nine months of the year – around 14% less than in the same period last year, which saw around €3.2 billion in donations. There were fewer donors, but the average donation rose to a record level of €41 per donation, three euros more than in 2024. "Those who donate are doing so more consciously and generously – that is a strong signal in difficult times," said Pastor Ulrich Pohl, chairman of the German Donations Council.

Arkistosta | Hämeenlinnalaiset Inka ja Arttu ovat aina yhdessä, eivätkä tee mitään ilman toista – "Jokainen päivä on juhlaa"

Arkistosta | Hämeenlinnalaiset Inka ja Arttu ovat aina yhdessä, eivätkä tee mitään ilman toista – "Jokainen päivä on juhlaa"

Juttu on julkaistu ensimmäisen kerran 4.11. 2025. Kissankehtolaiset-taiteilijanimeä käyttävällä nelikymppisellä pariskunnalla on takanaan jo 23 yhteistä vuotta, eivätkä he saa toisistaan tarpeekseen. Sillekin löytyy järkevä selitys, miksi Inkan pyörän mittarilukema heittää 150 kilometriä Artun lukemasta.