In a move that signals a growing European trend toward digital restraint, Denmark has announced plans to introduce a nationwide ban on social media for children under the age of 15.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen unveiled the proposal during the opening of parliament’s autumn session, describing the initiative as a step to reclaim childhood from the grip of technology. The legislation, once finalized, would permit parents to authorize social media access for children as young as 13 — but only under direct supervision.
“The mobile phone and social media are stealing the innocence and imagination of our children,” Frederiksen said, citing data showing that more than half of Danish boys aged 11 to 19 now prefer online interaction to meeting friends in person.
The government has not yet detailed how the policy will be implemented or which platforms will fall under the ban, but officials suggest enforcement may involve age-verification systems and collaboration with tech companies.
Globally, the debate over youth and social media has intensified. Australia became one of the first Western nations to legislate a similar measure, passing a law in late 2024 prohibiting access for anyone under 16. Enforcement mechanisms remain under development, but the law applies broadly to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.
Meanwhile, Greece has urged the European Union to adopt a unified “digital age of consent” framework — effectively setting 16 as the baseline for independent access across member states.
The Danish proposal positions the country within a growing coalition of nations pushing back against what many see as an unregulated psychological experiment on the young. For parents and policymakers alike, the message is clear: the screen is no longer a harmless toy — it’s a frontier demanding governance.
