Denmark to ban social media for under-15s as PM warns it is stealing childhood'

"We have unleashed a monster. She added: Never before have so many children and young people suffered from anxiety and depression. Many children also have difficulty reading and concentrating, said Frederiksen, adding that on screens they see things no child or young person should see."

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: we've been too naive. We've left children's digital lives to platforms that never had their wellbeing in mind. We must move from digital captivity to community."

"It would be an uphill battle but that politicians must intervene to protect children from the power of the algorithms."

Denmark has proposed a ban on social media use for people under 15, with an option for parental permission from age 13. The measure would cover multiple social platforms and could take effect as early as next year. Cited concerns include rising anxiety and depression among children and young people, difficulties with reading and concentration, reduced in-person social contact, and exposure to harmful content on screens. Comparable measures in Australia and Norway set minimum ages of 16 and 15 respectively. Government officials described previous naivety toward platforms and argued for prioritizing child wellbeing over algorithmic influence.

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