Denmark To Ban Social Media For Under-15s

Sky News reports: Research published by Denmark’s wellbeing commission earlier this year found 94% of the country’s young people had a social media profile before they turned 13 – despite that being the minimum age for many social media platforms.

It also found nine to 14-year-olds were spending an average of three hours a day on TikTok and YouTube.

Ms Frederiksen did not give details on how a ban would be enforced – an issue Australia is grappling with – but there is some public support for her proposal.

In 2024, 50,000 people in Denmark signed a petition calling for a ban on TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.

Parents should be able to give permission for their children to have accounts from the age of 13, according to Ms Frederiksen.

Earlier this year, the Danish government also announced it would ban mobile phones in schools and after-school clubs, meaning that almost all children aged between seven and 16-17 will be required by law not to bring their phones into school.

According to TRT world, Denmark’s move follows similar steps from across the world, where stricter age limits on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat aim to shield children from harmful algorithms.

A French parliamentary committee last month called for a ban on social media for children under 15 and a digital curfew for teens, citing TikTok’s harmful influence.

Australia has introduced a world-first bill banning children under 16 from social media. Platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram could face fines up to $33 million for failing to block underage accounts.

South Korea has passed legislation banning phones and smart devices during school hours, effective March 2026.

Many nations have implemented similar restrictions, including Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and China.

Türkiye is planning phased age limits, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warning that screen addiction is “spreading like a plague.”