Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced a plan to ban social media for minors under 15, citing growing anxiety and depression among young people.
Denmark has shocked Europe with a dramatic policy shift: the government plans to ban social media for anyone under the age of 15. The initiative, led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, aims to rein in what she described as the “monster” of mobile phones and digital platforms.
“We have unleashed a monster,” Frederiksen declared during the opening of Parliament in Copenhagen. “Mobile phones and social media are stealing our children’s childhood. Therefore, the government intends to ban them for those under 15.”
The move represents a sharp reversal for a nation once seen as a digital pioneer. Denmark had previously encouraged screen use in schools—even among young children—but the government now wants to “return to books” and cut screen time.
Frederiksen warned about the alarming rise in mental health issues among youth: “Sixty percent of Danish teens aged 11 to 19 stay home instead of going out with friends. Never before have so many children suffered from anxiety and depression.”
The proposed bill, whose introduction date has not yet been set, would allow parents to authorize limited use of social media starting at age 13. The measure aligns with a broader global trend of regulating children’s access to digital platforms.
Internationally, Australia took the lead in 2024 by passing a law banning TikTok, X, Facebook, and Instagram for users under 16. Meanwhile, Greece proposed establishing a “digital age of majority” across the European Union, underscoring an ongoing debate over the balance between digital freedom and child protection.