In a significant development, Denmark’s government has unveiled plans to ban social media access for individuals under the age of 15, intensifying the scrutiny on major tech companies. This decision reflects mounting concerns over the potential negative impact of digital content and commercial influences on young users.

The proposed regulation includes a provision that may allow parents, following a specific assessment, to permit their children to engage with social media starting at age 13. However, questions remain about the practical enforcement of such a ban, given that many platforms already have age restrictions, which are often circumvented.

This initiative stands out as one of the most ambitious efforts by an EU member state to curtail social media usage among teens and younger children. The increasing prevalence of digital interactions has sparked widespread apprehension about its effects on youth across the globe.

Caroline Stage, Denmark’s Minister for Digital Affairs, highlighted to The Associated Press that a staggering 94% of Danish children under 13 have social media profiles, with over half of those under 10 already participating in these online communities.

Stage expressed concern over the extensive time children spend online and their exposure to harmful content, including violence and self-harm. She commended tech companies for their innovation and financial power but criticized their lack of investment in ensuring online safety for children and society at large.

No rush to legislation, no loopholes for tech giants

While the ban is not set to be implemented immediately, it has garnered support from a broad coalition of lawmakers across Denmark’s political spectrum. It is anticipated that it will take several months for the legislation to be fully developed and enacted.

“I can assure you that Denmark will hurry, but we won’t do it too quickly because we need to make sure that the regulation is right and that there is no loopholes for the tech giants to go through,” Stage said. Her ministry said pressure from tech giants’ business models was “too massive.”

It follows a move in December in Australia, where parliament enacted the world’s first ban on social media for children – setting the minimum age at 16.

That made platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram subject to fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent children younger than 16 from holding accounts.

Officials in Denmark didn’t say how such a ban would be enforced in a world where millions of children have easy access to screens. But Stage noted that Denmark has a national electronic ID system – nearly all Danish citizens over age 13 have such an ID – and plans to set up an age-verification app. Several other EU countries are testing such apps.

“We cannot force the tech giants to use our app, but what we can do is force the tech giants to make proper age verification, and if they don’t, we will be able to enforce through the EU commission and make sure that they will be fined up to 6% of their global income.”

Aiming to shield kids from harmful content online

Many governments have been grappling with ways of limiting harmful fallout from online technologies, without overly squelching their promise. Stage said Denmark’s legislative push was “not about excluding children from everything digital” – but keeping them away from harmful content.

China – which manufacturers many of the world’s digital devices – has set limits on online game time and smart-phone time for kids.

Prosecutors in Paris this week announced an investigation into allegations that TikTok allows content promoting suicide and that its algorithms may encourage vulnerable young people to take their own lives.

“Children and young people have their sleep disrupted, lose their peace and concentration, and experience increasing pressure from digital relationships where adults are not always present,” the Danish ministry said. “This is a development that no parent, teacher or educator can stop alone.”

The EU’s Digital Services Act, which took effect two years ago, forbids children younger than 13 to hold accounts on social media like TikTok and Instagram, video sharing platforms like YouTube and Twitch, and sites like Reddit and Discord, as well as AI companions.

Many social media platforms have for years banned anyone 13 or under from signing up for their services. TikTok users can verify their ages by submitting a selfie that will be analyzed to estimate their age. Meta Platforms, parent of Instagram and Facebook, says it uses a similar system for video selfies and AI to help figure out a user’s age.

TikTok said in an email that it recognizes the importance of Denmark’s initiative.

“At TikTok, we have steadfastly created a robust trust and safety track record, with more than 50 preset safety features for teen accounts, as well as age appropriate experiences and tools for guardians such as Family Pairing,” a tool allowing parents, guardians, and teens to customize safety settings.

We look forward to working constructively on solutions that apply consistently across the industry,” it added.

Meta didn’t respond immediately to requests for comment from the AP.

“We’ve given the tech giants so many chances to stand up and to do something about what is happening on their platforms. They haven’t done it,” said Stage, the Danish minister. “So now we will take over the steering wheel and make sure that our children’s futures are safe.”