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

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

Q: What is the Danish government doing to address social media addiction among children?

The Danish government has moved to ban access to social media for children under 15, although the legislation will take time to enact.

12 Nov

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Summary

94% of Danish children under 13 have social media profiles
Australian government voted to ban social media use by children under 16
Teens desperate to disconnect, would pay to cut off TikTok for a month

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.