Denmark is planning a major step towards protecting the mental health of young people. The Danish government has announced plans to ban the use of social media by children under 15. However, parents will be able to give special permission for 13- and 14-year-olds to use some platforms.
This initiative follows a call by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen during her opening speech in parliament last month, where she highlighted concerns about the impact of social media on the mental health of adolescents.
An analysis by the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority from February this year showed that young Danish people spend an average of 2 hours and 40 minutes each day on social media, a statistic that has alarmed experts and parents. Many political parties in parliament have expressed support for the plan, but it must first go to a formal vote and could undergo changes during parliamentary debate.
This type of restriction is not unprecedented: last year, Australia imposed a ban on children under 16, while other European countries are considering similar policies to protect young people from social pressure, digital media addiction and content that can harm emotional development.
The Danish government is also working to put in place accompanying measures, such as digital education and guidelines for safe internet use, making this initiative a combination of restriction and education to help children build healthier relationships with technology.
Sources: The Guardian, Reuters
