Denmark to follow Australia’s bold move on social media age limits
A European nation plans to ban under-15s from social media after Australia’s groundbreaking reforms, with its prime minister warning “we have unleashed a monster.”
The Danish government will follow Australia’s lead with plans to implement a social media age limit for children.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made an impassioned plea for support of fellow politicians as parliament opened, saying: “Mobile phones and social media are stealing our children’s childhood”.
“We have unleashed a monster,” she said of social media.
Ms Frederiksen said she hoped to change the law in Denmark to prevent children under the age of 15 from accessing social media.
“I hope that you here in the chamber will help tighten the law so that we take better care of our children here in Denmark,” she said.
Last year, more than 50,000 Danish citizens signed a petition calling for a ban on social media platforms including Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok.
The Danish PM’s announcement comes after Australia unveiled world-leading legislation that will raise the age of access to social media from 13 to 16.
The laws, due to begin in December, were lauded at the United Nations last month where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told world leaders about the groundbreaking move to protect children from the devastating harms of social media.
Australia’s decision came after lobbying from New Corp Australia’s Let Them Be Kids Campaign.
“We need to give kids more time to develop the maturity and the skills to navigate the online world safely,” Mr Albanese told leaders at the United Nations.
“What we are doing isn’t easy. But the burden that social media can place on our young people is often far harder.”
Speaking at Australia’s event in New York other world leaders including European Union President Ursula von der Leyen lauded Australia’s leadership.
“Our next generation needs us to step up, to be daring, and to give this a go,” she said.
Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the world was eagerly watching the success of Australia’s legislation.
“We are running the biggest unchecked experiment with our children’s brains ever and we don’t know what the consequences will be,” he said.
“As you pointed out, Prime Minister, it’s not going to be perfect, but we cannot use the difficulties in implementing these policies as an excuse not to do something about the problem.
“So as responsible leaders, we do have an obligation, not just a responsibility, to address this challenge, and this is what we intend to do.”
The Australian government will begin an advertising campaign in the coming weeks to educate families on the coming changes that will bar anyone under the age of 16 from maintaining or creating a social media account.
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Originally published as Denmark to follow Australia’s bold move on social media age limits
