Danish prime minister Frederiksen has proposed banning the use of social media by minors under the age of 15. She says mobile phones and social media are causing children problems such as anxiety and exposure to bad information.
Frederiksen mentioned the plan in a speech to parliament that day, but did not disclose details, such as which websites or mobile applications the ban covers, a timetable for implementation and details of how it will be implemented.
‘never before have so many children suffered from anxiety, depression and loneliness, ‘ she said. In addition, mobile phones and social media have led to problems for many children, such as difficulty concentrating, difficulty reading and exposure to unhealthy information.
More than 97 percent of Danish children in the 13th grade have social media accounts by the time they turn 13, and nearly 60 percent of boys between the ages of 11 and 19 have not seen a friend in the past week, Frederiksen said. She said children under 15 should be banned from using social media, but those over 13 should be allowed to use it with parental consent.
Denmark introduced rules in September that prohibit children from using mobile phones in primary school or during extracurricular activities.