From Wednesday,Australia is set to enforce a world-leading social media ban for anyone under 16, as concern grows that kids are getting too swept up in a digitised world of harmful content and commercial interests.
And now, Denmark looks ready to follow its lead.
Last month, the Nordic country announced it had secured an agreement to block access to social media for anyone under 15 – a move that could potentially become law by mid-2026.
Denmark’s proposal would allow parents – following a specific assessment – to allow their children access from age 13.
If passed, it would be one of the most restrictive steps yet by a European Union country to limit social media use among teens and younger children.
But for some Danish students and technology experts, the plan raises serious questions.
Danish teenagers Ronja Zander, 15, and Chloé Fjelstrup-Matthisen, 14, are both active social media users.
“I myself have some friends that I only know from online, and if I wasn’t 15 yet, I wouldn’t be able to talk with those friends,” Zander said.
Both teens said they are aware of the negative aspects of social media, from cyberbullying to disturbing graphic content, though they were not in favour of a ban.
“Just a few months ago, a guy was shot in the US, and the video was on social media everywhere and I just went to school and then I saw it,” Fjelstrup-Matthisen said.
“I think it’s not the youths’ responsibility to make sure there’s no bad stuff on the internet,” she added. “The government, they need to regulate what we young people see.”
How would Denmark’s social media ban be enforced?
Last month, Denmark’s minister for digital affairs, Caroline Stage, said the ban won’t take effect immediately. There’s still a consultation process and several parliamentary readings before it could become law – potentially “mid to end of next year,” she said.
“In far too many years, we have given the social media platforms free play in the playing rooms of our children. There’s been no limits,” Stage said.
“When we go into the city at night, there are bouncers who are checking the age of young people to make sure that no one underage gets into a party that they’re not supposed to be in. In the digital world, we don’t have any bouncers, and we definitely need that.”
Exactly how such a ban would be enforced remains unclear.
But Denmark’s digital affairs ministry unveiled plans last month for a “digital identity wallet” – expected in spring 2026 – that will include an age certificate to ensure users comply with social media age limits.
Many platforms already restrict pre-teens, but Stage points out that around 98 per cent of Danish children under 13 have at least one social media profile, and nearly half of children under 10 do as well.
Denmark would be following in Australia’s footsteps. From Wednesday, social platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (€28.2 million) if they fail to remove accounts of Australian children under 16.
Other countries are also weighing up the measure. France, Greece, Romania, Malaysia, and New Zealand are all considering setting minimum ages for social media access.
Still, experts caution that restrictions like Denmark’s aren’t foolproof. Anne Mette Thorhauge, an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen, points to enforcement challenges, increased data collection, and potential impacts on children’s rights.
“To me, the greatest challenge is actually the democratic rights of these children. I think it’s sad that it’s not taken more into consideration,” she said.
“Social media, to many children, is what broadcast media was to my generation. It was a way of connecting to society.”