Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called for a national ban on social media use for children under 15. She warned that mobile phones and online platforms are “stealing our children’s childhood”, urging lawmakers to take bold action.
Frederiksen made the announcement during a speech before the Danish parliament, the Folketing, on Tuesday. She asked MPs to back a proposal banning “more” social media access for under-15s, while parents could still allow limited use from the age of 13.
The European Union already sets 13 as the minimum age for creating social media accounts. However, Frederiksen cited data showing that 94 per cent of Danish children use social media before turning 13. “They see things on the screen that they shouldn’t,” she said, warning of a rise in anxiety, depression, and reading difficulties. “We have unleashed a monster,” she added.
The prime minister did not clarify which social media platforms would be targeted by the proposed restrictions.
The Danish government has also introduced plans to ban mobile phones in schools and after-school clubs. It is pushing for stronger EU-wide measures to safeguard children from online harms.
Similar moves are spreading across Europe. In June, the Dutch government urged parents not to let under-15s use platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Last year, French President Emmanuel Macron said he supported a similar ban.
Frederiksen’s proposal has ignited a continent-wide debate over children’s digital safety and freedom.
