Following Australias lead, Denmark plans to ban social media for children younger than 15

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Following Australia's pioneering initiative to impose a social media ban on children under 16, Denmark is gearing up to implement similar restrictions aimed at safeguarding young users. In recent announcements, the Danish government revealed that it has garnered support from a coalition of three governing parties and two opposition groups to prohibit social media access for individuals younger than 15. This potential legislation would mark a significant development in the European Union's efforts to regulate social media usage among minors. If passed, the law could come into effect as early as mid-2026. Reports suggest that parents may still have the option to allow their children access to social media starting at age 13, although detailed plans have yet to be disclosed by the government. Currently, many social media platforms enforce age restrictions that prevent children under 13 from creating accounts. Additionally, a European Union mandate compels major tech companies to implement protective measures for young users against online dangers and inappropriate content. However, officials have pointed out that these regulations often fall short. Alarmingly, around 98% of Danish children below 13 reportedly maintain profiles on at least one social media platform, with nearly half of those under 10 years old engaging online. Caroline Stage, Denmark's Minister for Digital Affairs, emphasized the urgency of the proposed ban during a recent interview, underlining the lack of regulation in the digital space compared to physical environments. "When we go into the city at night, there are bouncers who check the age of young people to prevent underage access to parties. In the digital world, we don’t have any bouncers, and we definitely need that," she stated. Under the newly enacted Australian law, social media giants such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately $33 million) if they fail to remove accounts belonging to users under 16. Some students in Denmark have expressed concerns that similar laws could sever their connections with online friends. "I have friends online that I wouldn’t be able to talk to if I were under 15," lamented 15-year-old Ronja Zander, a user of Instagram and Snapchat. Conversely, some young people recognize the potential dangers of social media. Fourteen-year-old Chloé Courage Fjelstrup-Matthisen shared her experience of encountering graphic content online, highlighting the need for greater oversight. Danes are divided on the proposed ban. Local resident Line Pedersen believes the initiative is necessary, stating, "We didn’t realize the implications of giving our children access to smartphones and social media at such a young age." The specifics of how the ban would be enforced remain unclear. However, the Digital Affairs Ministry plans to introduce a new “digital evidence” app next spring that will verify user ages, which could play a pivotal role in the anticipated regulations. Experts have voiced concerns about the potential infringement on the rights of children and teenagers that such bans could entail. Anne Mette Thorhauge, an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen, remarked, "The greatest challenge is the democratic rights of these children. Social media serves as a connection to society for many young people today." The need for effective regulation has been underscored by the EU's Digital Services Act, which mandates social media platforms to adopt parental controls and age verification measures. However, enforcing these regulations has proven difficult, requiring cooperation among member states and significant resources. Denmark is not alone in this movement; Malaysia is set to implement a similar ban on social media accounts for individuals under 16 next year, while Norway is also considering restrictions. Meanwhile, China has already enforced limits on online gaming and smartphone usage for younger audiences, reflecting a global trend toward increased regulation in the digital landscape.