Denmark passes social media ban for users under 15

Denmark is the latest country to take aim at Big Tech, announcing plans Friday to ban social media access for users under 15.

As reported by the Associated Press, the measure won’t take effect immediately, but the details of how the ban will be enforced remain unclear. Denmark reportedly plans to roll out an official age-verification app as part of the enforcement system, and would allow parents to grant access to children as young as 13 following an assessment process.

The move puts Denmark in line with a growing list of countries introducing similar measures as concerns over social media’s impact on youth mental health continue to mount. Australia has become the first nation to implement a social media ban for minors, which is set to take effect this December. That ban would have platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Reddit on the hook for fines of up to $50 million AUD ($33 million USD) if they fail to comply.

In the U.S., there’s no nationwide restriction, but several states have enacted or proposed legislation limiting social media use among minors. Those laws vary widely — Nebraska, for instance, requires parental approval for anyone under 18 to open an account — and many are now being challenged in court over First Amendment concerns.

If Denmark’s plan proceeds smoothly, it could redefine the balance of power between governments and Big Tech companies like Meta, opening a new front in the global battle over who bears responsibility for verifying users’ ages — platforms, parents, or app stores.