Denmark Bans Social Media for Minors in Digital Age Regulation

Key Findings:

• The Danish government has reached a political agreement to introduce legislation banning social media use for anyone under the age of 15.

• This measure would rank among the strictest digital regulations aimed at protecting young users from the potential harms of social media.

• The government cites concerns over disrupted sleep, loss of peace and concentration, and increasing social pressure on children and adolescents.

• Denmark's initiative follows Australia's nationwide social media ban for children, set to take effect in December 2023, with even stricter standards prohibiting access for those under 16.

• The enforcement of such age restrictions, particularly through methods involving facial recognition or ID verification, has sparked global debates over privacy and data security, especially for minors.

Background

Denmark's move to ban social media for under-15s is not an isolated incident. It comes amid growing global concerns over the potential negative impacts of social media on young users. Governments worldwide are grappling with how to strike a balance between protecting vulnerable populations and preserving individual privacy and digital freedoms.

The Danish government has stated that this legislative effort aims to address the widespread issues of disrupted sleep, loss of peace and concentration, and increasing social pressure that children and adolescents face due to social media use. In a statement, the Ministry of Digitalization emphasized that these are problems that neither parents, teachers, nor educators can solve alone.

Australia's Nationwide Social Media Ban

Denmark's initiative closely follows Australia's upcoming nationwide social media ban for children, set to take effect in December 2023. The Australian law requires companies operating within the country to adopt age-verification technology or face substantial fines for non-compliance. This strict approach, prohibiting access for those under 16, has drawn global attention and sparked debates over the specific means of verification, particularly those involving facial recognition or the upload of identification documents.

Global Approaches to Age Restrictions

The debate over age-based social media restrictions is not limited to Denmark and Australia. In the United Kingdom and Italy, users are already required to upload a selfie or ID to access adult websites. In the United States, approaches vary widely between states, with Texas recently attempting to introduce a similar ban (which ultimately failed to pass), while Utah, in 2023, enacted a law requiring parental consent for minors to create accounts. Meanwhile, Florida's version of the ban remains tied up in court proceedings.

Enforcement Challenges and Privacy Concerns

The enforcement of such age restrictions, particularly through methods involving facial recognition or ID verification, has sparked global debates over privacy and data security, especially concerning minors. The specific means of verification proposed in different countries have provoked intense discussions about the potential risks to individual privacy and the protection of sensitive personal information.

Conclusion

Denmark's move to ban social media for under-15s, along with similar initiatives in Australia and other countries, signals a growing global trend toward tighter digital regulations aimed at safeguarding young users. However, the implementation and enforcement of these measures, as well as the related privacy concerns, remain complex and highly debated issues that will continue to shape the evolving landscape of digital governance.

Sources

• https://securityonline.info/denmark-moves-to-ban-social-media-for-under-15s-in-world-leading-digital-crackdown/

• https://www.facebook.com/sydneymorningherald/posts/denmark-will-ban-social-media-for-anyone-aged-under-15-after-a-political-deal-to/1278926870942024/