Copenhagen [Denmark], October 9: The Guardian newspaper on October 8 quoted Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen as saying that the country will ban people under 15 from using social networks, accusing mobile phones and social networks of "stealing our children's childhood".
"We have unleashed a monster. There have never been more children and young people suffering from anxiety and depression than there are today," she said at the opening of the National Assembly, adding that many children also struggle to read and concentrate. "On screens, they see things that no child or young person should see," she said.
Prime Minister Frederiksen did not specify which social networks would be affected by the new measures, but said the ban would apply to "some" social media platforms. She said parents would be able to allow their children to use social media when they were 13 or older. The ban is expected to come into effect as early as next year. According to Ms. Frederiksen, 60% of boys aged 11 to 19 do not meet any friends in their free time, while 94% of seventh graders had a social media account before turning 13. In February, Denmark said mobile phones would be banned in all schools and after-school clubs. The decision was made following a recommendation by a government welfare committee set up to investigate growing discontent among children and young people. The committee concluded that children under 13 should not have their own smartphones or tablets.
The harmful effects of social media on young people have led many countries to decide or are considering tightening regulations. In November 2024, Australia passed a law banning children under 16 from using social media, which will come into effect later this year. Social media platforms could face large fines if they fail to comply with the regulations.
In neighboring New Zealand, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon proposed a bill on May 6 that would require social networks to verify users are 16 or older before they can create accounts. Mr. Luxon said some teachers and parents have reported children being bullied online, exposed to violent content and addicted to social networks.
In Northern Europe, Norway will impose a strict minimum age limit of 15 on social media use, as the government steps up its campaign to tighten regulation of tech companies it says are "fighting against the fragile brains of young children." In May, Greece, France and Spain called on the European Union (EU) to introduce a "digital adulthood" that would ban children from accessing social media without parental consent. In July, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Greece announced a trial of a blueprint for an age-verification app to protect children online.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
