The Danish government has announced an agreement to prohibit children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. This decision, reported by the Associated Press (AP) on November 7, aims to shield teenagers from harmful digital content and commercial pressures. The measure includes provisions allowing parents to grant access to children aged 13 through a specialized assessment, though implementation details remain unresolved. Experts highlight that current age restrictions on major platforms are frequently circumvented by users.
Danish Minister of Digital Technology Caroline Stage emphasized that 94% of children under 13 and over half of those under 10 possess social media accounts, exposing them to significant risks of online violence and self-harm. She criticized technology companies for prioritizing profit over child safety, noting their reluctance to invest in protective measures. A JAMA study cited by Medical Xpress revealed that adolescents aged 9-13 spending five and a half hours daily on screens, with substantial time devoted to social media, experienced declines in cognitive abilities such as memory and vocabulary.
