Denmark Bans Social Media for Under-15s Amid Addiction Concerns

In November 2025, the Danish government took action to address the growing concerns over the harmful effects of social media on children. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who has been vocal about the issue, told parliament that "mobile phones and social media steal our children's childhood." To tackle the problem, Denmark moved to ban access to social media for children under 15, although the legislation will take time to enact.

This initiative reflects the growing frustration among lawmakers around the world that the tech industry is not doing enough to address social media addiction. Last year, Australia's government voted to ban social media use by children under 16, with the law set to take effect in December 2025. Globally, some 26 laws across 19 jurisdictions have been enacted to enforce online safety.

The tech industry has often resisted such moves, touting the benefits of social media while dismissing concerns as a "moral panic." However, studies have shown that many young users are desperate to disconnect from the addictive grip of platforms like TikTok. One survey found that college students would need to be paid $50 to cut off their TikTok accounts for a month, while they would pay $24 for all students to be disconnected for four weeks.

As governments and experts continue to grapple with the impact of social media on children, the need for decisive action has become increasingly clear. With the Danish ban and similar measures in other countries, lawmakers are taking steps to protect the free will and wellbeing of the next generation.