Denmark proposes banning social media for kids under 15

The country of Denmark is proposing a social media ban for children under the age of 15.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the proposal Tuesday at the opening of the Folketing, the Danish parliament, saying social media platforms are “stealing our children’s childhood.”

“The reality is that we have let a monster loose. Never before have so many children and young people suffered from anxiety and depression,” Frederiksen said in part, as CNN reported.

Frederiksen called out the negative impacts of cellphones and social media on children, including on their mental health; adverse impacts on reading skills and concentration; and online safety concerns.

The Danish proposal would allow for an exception, giving parents the choice to approve social media use for their kids starting at the age of 13, if they wish.

The proposal follows a successful vote by Danish lawmakers in September to ban cellphones from elementary schools and after-school programs in the Scandinavian country, according to CNN.

Denmark is not the only country to ban social media or propose such restrictions.

Australia banned social media accounts for children under 16 in November 2024, becoming the first country in the world to do so.

The law gave platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok one year to abide by the law or be subjected to fines of up to $33 million.

At the time, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he supported parents’ concerns about the harm children face online.

“Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them,” Albanese told reporters at the time, according to the Associated Press.