Denmark will ban under-15s from using social media platforms. The move is being taken to ensure the mental health of teenagers is protected, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said. Danish Digitalisation Minister Caroline Stage Olsen said social media is stealing children's time and well-being.
While under-15s will be banned from having social media accounts, an exemption will be granted for users aged 13 and over if they receive permission from their parents or guardians. However, this relaxation will only apply to certain platforms that the Danish government has not yet announced.
When it comes into effect, Denmark will become the second country after Australia to ban under-16s from accessing social media. Australia will enforce the ban on under-16s on December 10. Sites that fail to do so could face fines of A$49.5 million (~RM 134 million). So far, only Discord, GitHub, LEGO Play, Roblox, Steam, Steam Chat, Google Classroom, Messenger, WhatsApp and YouTube Kids have been exempted from this enforcement.
