Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark has announced plans to restrict the use of social media platforms by minors under the age of 15, citing concerns over the impact of these platforms on young users. In an address to parliament on Tuesday, Frederiksen sounded the alarm over the effects of social media on the youth, stating that ‘mobile phones… are stealing our children’s childhood.’ She described the situation as a ‘monster’ that has been unleashed, calling for urgent action to protect children from the potential harm of these platforms.
The proposal comes amidst growing reports highlighting the excessive use of social media by young Danes. A government-commissioned wellbeing report found that 94% of young Danes had social media profiles before turning 13, despite minimum age rules on many platforms. The report also noted that children aged 9-14 spent, on average, about three hours a day on TikTok and YouTube. Further data from a 2025 report by the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority indicated that 10% of young users often regretted time spent online, 21% struggled to log off, and 29% exceeded the time they intended to spend on their preferred platforms.
According to Statista, Facebook remains the most popular social network in Denmark, used by 83% of the population, followed by Instagram at 65%, Snapchat at 51%, and TikTok at 34%. In 2024, a citizens’ initiative backed by 50,000 signatures proposed banning TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram for minors. This past February, acting on the wellbeing commission’s recommendations, Denmark moved to ban mobile phones in schools.
A WHO-backed study on health behaviors in school-aged children found that 11% of adolescents in Europe, Central Asia, and Canada reported problematic social media use in 2022, a significant increase from 7% in 2018. This addiction-like behavior, characterized by a loss of control, withdrawal symptoms, and negative life consequences, was more prevalent among girls (13%) than boys (9%). While the proposed ban does not yet include specific details on implementation or the platforms that would be affected, the government is considering further action to regulate social media’s influence on young users.