Eisermann on Social-Media Ban: "Words can kill" - Actor Demands Social Media Ban for Under-16s, Citing Goethe’s Werther
Actor André Eisermann has called for a ban on social media for children under 16. His argument draws on parallels between modern online behaviour and Goethe’s 18th-century novel The Sorrows of Young Werther. The stage adaptation of the classic, which he performs, now feels more urgent due to the emotional risks posed by digital platforms.
Eisermann’s tour of Goethe Werther Eisermann begins in late January, with confirmed dates in Marburg (31 January 2026) and Kusel (1 and 8 February 2026). The production explores how words—whether in literature or online—can distort reality and endanger vulnerable minds.
He warns that the internet, as today’s dominant medium, can manipulate emotions just as books once did. Cases like Hamburg’s White Tiger trial, where young people were coerced into self-harm online, underscore his concerns. For Eisermann, the novel’s themes of emotional contagion mirror the dangers of unchecked social media use. To protect young users, he proposes age restrictions, comparing the need for safeguards to those in place for alcohol or tobacco. The ability to separate truth from lies, he argues, is now more critical than ever in an era of disinformation and AI-generated content.
Eisermann’s tour and advocacy highlight the risks of digital emotional manipulation. His call for stricter social media rules reflects growing concerns about online harm to young people. The debate over age limits and platform accountability is likely to continue as his performances reach wider audiences.
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