Denmark plans to ban social media for children

Denmark has announced an agreement to prohibit social media access for children under the age of 15.

The Associated Press reports that Denmark has announced an agreement to prohibit social media access for children under the age of 15, marking one of the most aggressive stances against the perceived harms of digital platforms on youth.

The proposed law would allow parents, after a specific assessment, to grant access from age 13.

Caroline Stage, Denmark's Minister for Digital Affairs, revealed the impetus for the ban, stating that 94% of Danish children under 13 are already on social media and are exposed to excessive amounts of time online, violence, and self-harm content.

She criticized tech giants for having "absurd amounts of money" but being unwilling to invest sufficiently in user safety.

The legislation, which is backed by a parliamentary majority, will not be rushed, with officials aiming to close any potential loopholes for tech companies. Enforcement is planned through Denmark's national electronic ID system and a forthcoming age-verification app, with the threat of fines up to 6% of global revenue for non-compliant platforms.

This move follows a similar ban in Australia and intensifies the global pressure on Big Tech to better protect younger users.

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Sharon Florentine Editorial Director

Sharon Florentine is the editorial director for CyberRisk Alliance’s Channel Brands and acting editorial director for SC UK. She is responsible for setting strategy and editorial direction and developing content for news, features, analysis and other written content, moderates live webcasts, and oversees research projects. Sharon has previously held key editorial, content and leadership positions at DevOps.com, Security Boulevard, CIO.com, Ziff Davis Enterprise, and CRN, among others.