A Radical Proposal in the Digital North
Denmark is charting a new frontier in its approach to childhood and technology. Lawmakers have unveiled plans to prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media — a measure that, if enacted, could make Denmark one of the most digitally restrictive yet child-conscious societies in Europe.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the initiative in her address to parliament, describing it as a safeguard against what she called the “silent erosion of childhood.” Her remarks struck a cultural chord: nearly two-thirds of Danish teenage boys, she noted, now spend more time at home on devices than interacting with friends face-to-face.
The proposal remains in its infancy. The government has not disclosed which platforms will be covered or how enforcement might function. Parents, however, would retain the discretion to allow limited access beginning at age 13 — suggesting the legislation aims less at punishment and more at setting a national standard of restraint.
An International Trend of Digital Boundaries
Denmark’s movement mirrors a growing international unease about the psychological toll of constant online exposure. Australia has already passed a nationwide restriction on social media for those under 16, though the practical details of the law are still undefined. The measure was hailed as pioneering but criticized for lacking clarity on implementation.
In Europe, Greece has pushed for a continental framework that would establish a “digital age of adulthood,” effectively requiring parental consent for minors to open social media accounts. It’s a move that reflects the shifting balance between technological freedom and developmental protection.
Reimagining Childhood in the Algorithmic Age
What Denmark is proposing is not merely a regulation — it’s a philosophical stance. It questions whether a society that connects everyone all the time is truly serving its youngest members.
For Frederiksen’s administration, the message is clear: technology should not raise children. The looming legislation, though still undefined in scope, signals Denmark’s intention to wrestle control of childhood back from the algorithms that have quietly shaped a generation.
Whether the rest of Europe follows suit or watches from behind its screens remains to be seen.
