Following Australia’s lead, Denmark plans to ban social media for children under 15

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — While Australia this week began imposing a ban on social media for children under 16, a first in the world, Denmark plans to follow suit and severely restrict young people’s access to social media.

The Danish government announced last month that it had secured an agreement between three ruling coalitions and two opposition parties in parliament to ban access to social media for anyone under the age of 15. Such a move would be the most radical step ever taken by a European Union country to limit the use of social media among adolescents and children.

The Danish government’s plans could become law as early as mid-2026. The proposed measure would give some parents the right to allow their children to access social media from the age of 13, local media reported, but the ministry has not yet fully shared its plans.

Many social media platforms already ban children under 13 from signing up, and a European law requires big tech to put in place measures to protect young people from online risks and inappropriate content. But officials and experts say such restrictions don’t always work.

Danish authorities have said that despite the restrictions, around 98% of Danish children under 13 have a profile on at least one social media platform, and almost half of children under 10 have one.

Digital Affairs Minister Caroline Stage, who announced the proposed ban last month, said there was still a consultation process on the measure and several readings in Parliament before it becomes law, possibly by “the middle or end of next year”.

“For far too many years, we have allowed social media platforms to run free in our children’s playrooms. There have been no limits,” Stage said in an interview with The Associated Press last month.

“When we go into town at night, there are bouncers checking the ages of young people to make sure no minors are at a party they are not supposed to be at,” she added. “In the digital world, we don’t have bouncers, and we absolutely need them.”

Under the new Australian law, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok,

Some students fear that such strict laws in Denmark will cause them to lose touch with their virtual communities.

“I myself have friends that I only know online, and if I wasn’t still 15, I wouldn’t be able to talk with those friends,” Ronja Zander, a 15-year-old student who uses Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, told the AP.

Chloe Courage Fjelstrup-Matthisen, 14, a high school student from Copenhagen, said she was aware of the negative impact social media can have, from cyberbullying to viewing graphic content. She said she saw a video of a man being shot several months ago.

“The video was all over social media and I just went to school and then I saw it,” she said.

Line Pedersen, a mother from Nykøbing in Denmark, said she thought the project was a good idea.

“I think we didn’t really realize what we were doing when we gave our kids phones and social media when they were eight or 10,” she said. “I don’t really think young people know what’s normal and what’s not.”

Danish authorities have not yet explained how exactly the proposed ban would be enforced and which social media platforms would be affected.

However, a new “digital evidence” app, announced by the Ministry of Digital Affairs last month and scheduled to launch next spring, will likely form the backbone of Denmark’s plans. The app will display an age certificate to ensure users comply with social media age limits, the ministry said.

“One thing is what they say and another is what they do or don’t do,” Stage said, referring to social media platforms. “And that’s why we have to do something politically.”

Some experts say restrictions, like Denmark’s planned ban, don’t always work and can also harm the rights of children and adolescents.

“For me, the biggest challenge is actually the democratic rights of these children. I find it a shame that this is not taken into more consideration,” said Anne Mette Thorhauge, associate professor at the University of Copenhagen.

“Social media, for many children, is what broadcast media was for my generation,” she added. “It was a way to connect to society.”

Currently, the EU’s Digital Services Act, which came into force two years ago, requires social media platforms to ensure measures are in place, including parental controls and age verification tools, before young users can access apps.

EU officials have acknowledged that enforcing regulations to protect children online has proven difficult because it requires cooperation between member states and numerous resources.

Denmark is among countries that have indicated they are considering following in Australia’s footsteps. Southeast Asian country Malaysia is expected to ban social media accounts for people under 16 from early next year, and Norway is also taking steps to restrict access to social media for children and adolescents.

China – which makes many of the world’s digital devices – has set limits on online gaming time and time spent on smartphones for children.