Independent Commission of Experts56 Recommendations for Greater Digital Protection of Children and Youth
The Commission examined four key areas: safety in the digital space; the health and psychological effects of media use; challenges posed by artificial intelligence; and strengthening media literacy among children, adolescents, parents, and professionals. Based on this, and taking into account the perspectives of children and adolescents, the results of expert hearings, input from federal and state observers, and the strategic foresight process, 56 recommendations for action were developed.
At the heart of the recommendations is the idea that protection, empowerment, and participation go hand in hand. Children and adolescents should be able to grow up safely and be protected from harm, while at the same time learning to navigate the digital world independently and exercise their rights. In doing so, the Commission takes into account that needs and risks vary depending on age and stage of development. Accordingly, protective measures should be more closely aligned with the different stages of life.
The recommendations address a variety of stakeholders. For example, families should receive support and counseling early on; schools need reliable strategies for preventive media education; and young people should be provided with safe digital offerings as well as easily accessible assistance. The Commission holds digital platform providers accountable. Risks should be limited from the outset through secure default settings, age-appropriate content, and effective reporting and support systems.
Based on a broad, science-based working and participatory process, the commission involved experts from various disciplines, representatives of civil society, and young people themselves. Six expert hearings brought together diverse perspectives. In addition, more than 100 children and young people nationwide participated in seven workshops. Young people from the klicksafe Youth Panel were also invited to a hearing in Berlin earlier this year, where they shared their own experiences and demands.
The Commission emphasizes that the protection of children and youth cannot be the responsibility of a single entity. Responsibilities should be organized in a more binding and collaborative manner, and transitions between the involved stakeholders should be better structured. At the same time, technological developments must be continuously taken into account so that protection strategies do not lag behind digital advancements.
With the submission of the final report to Federal Minister for Family Affairs Karin Prien, the work of the expert commission—established in September 2025—has been completed. Political implementation is now set to begin. At a specialist event on the final report, Karin Prien announced that the first immediate measures based on the recommendations are to be addressed at the policy level by the end of 2026. It is not yet known which of the 56 recommendations will be implemented, how they will be implemented, or within what timeframe.
The detailed recommendations and the underlying analyses can be found in the final report. A separate, child-friendly version of the recommendations also makes the findings accessible to children and young people themselves.
Young people also shared their perspectives
How do children and adolescents experience the digital world themselves, where do they see problems, and what do they want from policymakers, platforms, and adults? Young people aged 12 to 18 addressed these questions as part of an extensive participatory process centered on the recommendations of the expert commission. In seven workshops, they shared their own experiences, discussed specific situations from their everyday digital lives, and used these insights to develop a total of 70 recommendations.
The topics were diverse, ranging from media literacy and the protection of children and youth to well-being, mental health, and artificial intelligence. One thing became clear: Young people do not want fewer digital services. They want a digital world where they can navigate safely while remaining in control of their own lives.
Among other things, they expect platforms to provide better protection against hate, bullying, disinformation, and inappropriate content. They also view manipulative and addiction-promoting mechanisms critically. At the same time, they want clear information about how algorithms work, more support when problems arise, and better protection of their personal data. When it comes to artificial intelligence, their primary concern is preventing abuse and manipulation and using AI in a way that, for example, supports learning without replacing their own thinking.
What stands out is their desire for a balanced relationship between protection and self-determination. Young people do not view blanket bans as a solution. They want to be taken seriously and included in decisions that affect their digital lives. Adults also bear responsibility in this regard: children and young people want competent points of contact who know and understand their digital world.
The participatory process should not end with the publication of the report. The expert commission recommends continuing the involvement of children and adolescents in the protection of children and youth in the digital world on a permanent basis. The perspectives of young people should therefore continue to be incorporated into the development of measures and recommendations in the future.
The results of the participatory process and the 70 recommendations in total have now been published in a separate report. Anyone who would like to learn more about what children and adolescents themselves have to say about growing up in a digital world and what changes they would like to see will find their perspectives and recommendations presented in detail there.
