Days after Australia moved to enforce under 16s social media ban from December, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is following suit. The Danish Prime Minister announced on Tuesday that the authorities are covering up the social media's proposal of the social media of the social media, AFP reported.
At the opening message of Folkketing, the Danish parliament, she said: “Never before have so many children and young people suffered from anxiety and depression” and emphasized that this generation “has unleashed a monster”.
Claiming that an increasing number of young adults are reading and focusing on the fall session of Folkketing, she noted, “On screens they see things that no child or young person should see.”
Without specifying which social networks would be affected by the new measures, she said the ban would cover “several” social media platforms.
It is expected that the ban would be imposed as early as next year.
Suggesting that there could be an option for parents to allow their children to use social media platforms from the age of 13, she said: “The mobile phone and social media are robbing our children of their childhood.”
It follows February's announcement when Denmark said mobile phones would be banned in all schools and after-school clubs. The government of Denmark had launched a probe into dissatisfaction among children and young people. The government's wellbeing survey recommends that children under the age of 13 should not have their own smartphone or tablet.
Australia's social media ban for under 16s
To prevent a negative impact of social media on its young population, Australia has been a leader in global efforts. The Australian parliament passed the ban on social media for under 16s at the end of 2024. However, details about its implementation still remain under wraps. Several prominent platforms fall under the Australian Ban's mandate, including Facebook, Snapchat, Tiktok and YouTube.
Several months ago, Greece proposed establishing an “era of digital maturity” in the 27-nation European Union. To deny children's access to social media without parental consent Greece had made the proposal in June.
Even Norway's Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, revealed that the government would raise the minimum social media age from the current 13 to 15.
