Introduction to the Proposed Legislation
Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, announced on Tuesday that her government plans to propose a ban on social media usage for minors under the age of 15. In her opening speech at the parliamentary session, Frederiksen stated, “The government will propose to restrict access to various social media platforms for children and teenagers under 15 years old.”
Details of the Proposed Law
The draft legislation, which has yet to be scheduled for presentation, suggests that in certain cases, young individuals may be allowed to use social media starting from the age of 13, provided they have parental consent.
Frederiksen expressed concern about the impact of mobile phones and social media on children’s lives, stating that 60% of youth aged 11 to 19 opt to stay at home during their free time instead of meeting friends in person. The government has not yet specified how it intends to enforce this restriction.
International Context and Comparison
On an international level, Australia has been a pioneer in internet regulation. In 2024, the Australian Parliament approved a law that prohibits social media platforms such as TikTok, X, Facebook, and Instagram for minors under 16 years old.
In June, Greece proposed establishing a digital majority age across the European Union, below which children would not be allowed to access social media without parental consent.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Mette Frederiksen? Mette Frederiksen is the Prime Minister of Denmark, who announced the proposed legislation to restrict social media access for minors.
- What age group will be affected by this ban? The proposed law aims to restrict social media usage for individuals under the age of 15.
- What is the rationale behind this proposal? Prime Minister Frederiksen believes that excessive use of mobile phones and social media is depriving children of their childhood, as many youth prefer staying at home rather than socializing in person.
- How will the government enforce this restriction? The Prime Minister has not specified any methods for enforcing the proposed ban on social media usage.
- Are there similar regulations in other countries? Yes, Australia has implemented a law prohibiting social media access for minors under 16 years old, and Greece has proposed a digital majority age across the European Union to restrict social media access for children without parental consent.
