Denmark Takes Bold Step to Protect Children Online
In a decisive move to safeguard young people, Denmark has announced a landmark political agreement to prohibit social media access for children under the age of 15. This initiative, led by Digital Affairs Minister Caroline Stage, aims to intensify pressure on major technology platforms amid escalating global concerns about the pervasive influence of harmful content and commercial exploitation targeting young users.
The Challenge of Enforcement and Proposed Solutions
While the new legislation would allow parents, following a specific assessment, to grant their 13 and 14-year-olds access, significant questions remain regarding its practical enforcement. Caroline Stage revealed that 94% of Danish children under 13 and more than half of those under 10 already maintain social media profiles, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
Stage was critical of tech giants, stating, "They have an absurd amount of money available, but they’re simply not willing to invest in the safety of our children." She emphasised that Denmark would not rush the legislation, ensuring there are no loopholes for tech giants to exploit. The law is expected to take months to pass through parliament.
To enforce the ban, Denmark plans to leverage its national electronic ID system, which nearly all citizens over 13 possess, and develop an age-verification app. Stage clarified that while the government cannot force tech companies to use the Danish app, it can mandate proper age verification. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 6% of a company's global income through EU mechanisms.
A Growing Global Trend in Youth Online Safety
This measure represents one of the most far-reaching steps taken by a European government to curb social media use among younger demographics. It follows Australia's recent move to enact the world's first ban, setting the minimum age at 16 and imposing hefty fines for non-compliance.
The Danish ministry highlighted the risks children face online, noting disruptions to sleep, loss of concentration, and pressure from digital relationships. "This is a development that no parent, teacher or educator can stop alone," the ministry stated.
With the EU's Digital Services Act already prohibiting under-13s from holding social media accounts, Denmark's stricter ban signals a hardening stance. Minister Stage concluded, "We’ve given the tech giants so many chances... They haven’t done it. So now we will take over the steering wheel."
