Techniker Krankenkasse warns: Many young people cannot reduce their social media consumption on their own

Demands on policymakers

TK interprets the results as an indication that a purely voluntary renunciation of TikTok, Instagram and comparable platforms is unrealistic for many adolescents. The health insurer therefore sees a need for political action, for example with regard to age limits and control mechanisms.

From the insurer's perspective, excessive consumption jeopardizes school students' ability to concentrate, their sleep and their mental health. TK points to a growing number of inquiries to advisory centers for so-called phone addiction.

The Federal Student Conference (Bundesschülerkonferenz) also spoke out. Lilli Berthold of the Bundesschülerkonferenz said many young people wanted clear rules because they often could not restrain themselves in everyday life. She called for an honest societal debate rather than simply blaming the platforms.

Reactions from politics and society

Julius Klingelhoefer commented on the data from a youth policy perspective. According to him, the figures show that prevention alone is not enough when providers deliberately design their products for young users. He called for binding protection standards for minors.

TK emphasized that it wanted to involve families, schools and general practitioners more closely in order to identify risks earlier. This also includes education about the signs of excessive media consumption such as sleep deprivation, mood swings and social withdrawal.

International proceedings against platforms

At the same time, the health insurer reported on ongoing proceedings against major platform operators. For example, the company Meta was sentenced to a fine of $567 million in the USA because child protection on its services was deemed inadequate. TK views this ruling as confirmation of its demand for stricter rules.

Experts, however, are skeptical about a ban on social media for under-16s, as is sometimes being discussed. They point out that pure age bans are technically difficult to enforce and have produced only mixed effects in other countries with more experience.

The health insurer announced that it would expand its educational offerings and continue to advocate for statutory regulation. Baas said that ultimately it was about enabling children and young people to have a healthy relationship with digital media without completely locking them out of the digital world.

In an accompanying brochure, TK bundles tips for parents, teachers and young people themselves. These include fixed screen-free times, joint agreements within the family and the conscious avoidance of endless feeds while studying or before going to sleep.