Efforts to regulate social media have had little effect, according to Jugendschutz.net, a German government-funded organization. Its latest annual report recorded over 15,000 instances of sexualization, hate, and violence in 2025.

93% of all cases involved sexual violence against children. Political extremism accounted for 4%, while extreme hatred and violent fantasies targeting women and girls were also documented.

Music streaming service Spotify has emerged as a platform for far-right music and playlists promoting self-harm. Artificial intelligence exacerbates risks, with manipulated images distorting reality and chatbots engaging in sexualized interactions with minors.

Stefan Glaser, head of Jugendschutz.net, stated that chatbots are “taking on a life of their own,” describing sexual acts with minors. Age verification remains ineffective, and reporting mechanisms offer little protection.

Youth Minister Karin Prien called the situation an “alarming reality,” emphasizing that children are largely defenseless online. She criticized the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) as insufficient and called for stricter rules.

In Australia, an age restriction for social media introduced in December 2025 has had limited impact, with over half of under-16s still active on platforms. Providers resist regulation, challenging every measure in court.

Source: www.dw.com