Copenhagen: Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced plans to ban social media use for children under 15, warning that mobile phones and online platforms are stealing children’s childhood.
Delivering her address at the opening of the Danish parliament on Tuesday, Frederiksen described the rise of digital dependency among young people as a national crisis. “We have unleashed a monster. Never before have so many children and young people suffered from anxiety and depression,” she said.
Frederiksen said many Danish children struggle with reading and concentration and are frequently exposed online to content that no child or young person should see. The proposed ban, which could take effect as early as next year, would restrict access to multiple social media platforms for those under 15. Parents, however, would be allowed to grant permission for their children to join from the age of 13.
The move follows a growing international push to shield minors from the harmful effects of excessive screen time and social media use. Australia recently introduced a ban on social media platforms, including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, for children under 16.
Norway has also announced plans to raise the minimum age for social media use from 13 to 15, with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre saying that political leaders must act to protect children from the power of the algorithms.
Denmark’s digitalisation minister, Caroline Stage, remarked on the proposal as a breakthrough, stating the government had been too naive in allowing tech companies to shape children’s online lives. “We’ve left children’s digital lives to platforms that never had their well-being in mind,” she said. “We must move from digital captivity to community.”
Data presented by Frederiksen during her speech painted a troubling picture: 60 percent of Danish boys aged 11 to 19 reportedly spend no free time with friends in person, while 94 percent of seventh-grade students have a social media profile before the age of 13.
The announcement comes months after Denmark decided to ban mobile phones in all schools and after-school clubs, following the recommendations of a national wellbeing commission. The commission found that children under 13 should not own a personal smartphone or tablet, citing mounting evidence of social media’s negative effects on mental health, focus, and relationships.
The Danish initiative adds momentum to a broader European debate on the digital well-being of minors. In June, Greece proposed the creation of an EU-wide ‘age of digital adulthood,’ which would prevent children from using social media without parental consent.
