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Denmark's government has reached an unusual cross-party agreement to prohibit children under 15 from using certain social media platforms. The proposal, announced by the Digitalization Ministry, aims to curb rising concerns about how social apps affect young people's sleep, attention and mental wellbeing.
What the plan proposes — and what remains unclear
Under the draft policy, the Digitalization Ministry would set 15 as the minimum age for access to specified social platforms. Lawmakers described the move as a deliberate boundary: a public response to mounting research and parental unease about the online pressures children face.
However, officials have not yet named which networks will be covered, nor released details about how the rule would be enforced. That gap leaves big questions about technical checks, liability and cross-border enforcement.
Why Denmark’s move matters globally
This would be one of the boldest national attempts to keep children off social media. Momentum around age limits has been growing: Australia will require age-verification tech for major platforms starting in December, and U.S. states such as Utah and Florida have already introduced laws that touch on youth access or parental consent.
Imagine a future where logging in depends on an identity check — that’s the likely next step if governments want to make bans real. But methods such as facial recognition or ID uploads spark their own privacy debates, especially when children’s biometrics or IDs are involved.
Enforcement and privacy: the tricky trade-offs
Policymakers face a paradox. Tough enforcement — biometric scans, ID checks or centralized age databases — can deter underage sign-ups but raises data safety concerns. Lax approaches, on the other hand, risk becoming symbolic gestures with little practical effect.
Countries that have tested strict age-verification measures report heavy pushback about data retention, misuse and the ethical implications of collecting minors’ personal information. Those are exactly the questions Danish lawmakers will have to answer before rolling anything out.
Politics, parents and the next headlines
The cross-party tone of the announcement suggests broad political appetite to act. Digitalization Minister Caroline Stage framed it as “drawing a line in the sand,” signaling a change in how Denmark balances child protection and digital freedoms.
Critics will argue that social media access is ultimately a parenting choice and should not be overly regulated. Supporters will point to studies linking heavy social media use to disrupted sleep and mental-health issues among teens. Expect intense debate as the policy details emerge — and likely litigation if the rules touch platform operations or require invasive verification.
Questions to watch
- Which platforms will be subject to the age minimum?
- Will Denmark require tech like facial recognition or ID checks?
- How will enforcement handle accounts created abroad or via VPN?
- What safeguards will protect minors’ verification data?
Whatever the final form, Denmark's proposal will add fuel to a global debate: how to protect children online without compromising their privacy or pushing them to unsafe corners of the web. The next chapters will be written in detailed legislation, tech requirements and, almost certainly, courtroom challenges.
Source: engadget
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