Denmark Moves to Ban Social Media for Under-15s as PM Warns Phones Are ‘Stealing Childhood’

Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, has announced plans to ban social media use for children under 15, warning that smartphones and online platforms are “stealing our children’s childhood.”

Speaking at the opening of the Danish parliament on Tuesday, Frederiksen described the internet age as having “unleashed a monster,” citing alarming rates of anxiety, depression, and attention problems among young people. She said many children are exposed to h@rmful content online and struggle with reading and focus due to excessive screen time.

While the specific platforms to be affected were not named, the proposal would cover several major social networks. Parents, however, may be allowed to grant permission for children as young as 13 to use social media.

If approved, the ban could take effect as early as next year. Denmark’s move follows similar actions in Australia, which plans to restrict access for under-16s, and Norway, where the government is pushing to raise the minimum age for social media use from 13 to 15 to shield children from “the power of algorithms.”

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