What is Germany’s current age of criminal responsibility?

Germany sets criminal liability from age 14 under youth justice rules. Younger children can face welfare measures but not criminal trials. The Dormagen case has renewed debate on Germany criminal responsibley, with calls to review thresholds, sanctions, and prevention. Any change would require federal legislation and careful safeguards to protect children’s rights.

How might stricter social media age limits affect businesses?

Tighter rules could require stronger age checks, clearer parental tools, and youth-safe defaults. Onboarding may take longer, and tracking of minors could narrow. Brands may need new creative rules, audience filters, and faster responses to harmful content. Expect higher verification costs, more audits, and updates to privacy notices and consent records.

What metrics should advertisers track during testing?

Track cost per verified user, sign-up conversion, and parent consent completion. Monitor teen reach, frequency, and time to remove flagged content. Review complaint rates, refunds, and brand-safety incidents. Compare performance by verified and non-verified cohorts to spot friction points and to plan budgets for compliance and media buying.

Law and Government

February 07: Germany Youth‑Justice Push May Tighten Social Media Rules

ByDanny Kontos February 7, 2026February 7, 2026

Germany criminal responsibley is back in focus after the Dormagen Yosef case, where police are investigating a 12-year-old. Leaders across parties want a clear look at criminal liability at younger ages and tougher youth sanctions. SPD voices also press for stricter social media age limits tied to online safety. For investors, swift proposals could raise age‑verification and content‑moderation costs for platforms and advertisers. Changes in Germany may align with broader EU safety goals and affect ad targeting, data practices, and brand risk across campaigns in the German market.