Denmark Considers Social Media Ban for Children Under 15 Amid Data Protection Concerns
Danish Digital Minister advocates for stronger measures to safeguard minors in the digital landscape.
Denmark is contemplating a ban on social media for individuals under the age of 15, as articulated by Danish Digital Minister Caroline Stage Olsen in a recent interview.
This proposal aligns with Denmark's upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union, set to commence on July 1. Olsen expressed her belief that children under 15 should not engage with the current ecosystem of social media platforms, citing concerns over harmful and illegal content that she argues is not adequately addressed under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
During a Telecom Council meeting held on a recent Friday, Denmark collaborated with seven other EU nations to press the European Commission for enhanced protections for minors online.
The collective stance advocates for stronger mechanisms to verify the age of users, with Denmark, France, and Greece specifically emphasizing the need for outright social media restrictions for those under 15.
Olsen criticized the social media landscape, stating that it has failed to meet its responsibilities regarding user safety, asserting that current platforms focus more on data harvesting and advertising revenue than on facilitating genuine social interaction.
The European Commission is in the process of developing DSA guidelines aimed at improving online safety for children; however, Olsen has called for a stricter enforcement of these regulations.
She indicated dissatisfaction with the existing draft of the guidelines and insisted that only rigorous parameters under Article 28 would be effective.
Denmark plans to prioritize child protection in the agenda for an informal meeting of EU digital ministers scheduled for October 9-10. Additionally, Olsen highlighted the potential utility of the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, which seeks to modernize consumer protection laws for the digital age, as a vehicle for addressing the dangers of addictive digital designs impacting youth.
On the topic of protecting minors from exposure to pornographic content, Olsen endorsed the implementation of age verification measures at both device and app levels, following a recent initiative by pornographic sites like Pornhub to restrict access for users in France.
She expressed admiration for her French counterpart, noting a desire for similar actions in Denmark to ensure minors are shielded from inappropriate material.
This proposal aligns with Denmark's upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union, set to commence on July 1. Olsen expressed her belief that children under 15 should not engage with the current ecosystem of social media platforms, citing concerns over harmful and illegal content that she argues is not adequately addressed under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
During a Telecom Council meeting held on a recent Friday, Denmark collaborated with seven other EU nations to press the European Commission for enhanced protections for minors online.
The collective stance advocates for stronger mechanisms to verify the age of users, with Denmark, France, and Greece specifically emphasizing the need for outright social media restrictions for those under 15.
Olsen criticized the social media landscape, stating that it has failed to meet its responsibilities regarding user safety, asserting that current platforms focus more on data harvesting and advertising revenue than on facilitating genuine social interaction.
The European Commission is in the process of developing DSA guidelines aimed at improving online safety for children; however, Olsen has called for a stricter enforcement of these regulations.
She indicated dissatisfaction with the existing draft of the guidelines and insisted that only rigorous parameters under Article 28 would be effective.
Denmark plans to prioritize child protection in the agenda for an informal meeting of EU digital ministers scheduled for October 9-10. Additionally, Olsen highlighted the potential utility of the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, which seeks to modernize consumer protection laws for the digital age, as a vehicle for addressing the dangers of addictive digital designs impacting youth.
On the topic of protecting minors from exposure to pornographic content, Olsen endorsed the implementation of age verification measures at both device and app levels, following a recent initiative by pornographic sites like Pornhub to restrict access for users in France.
She expressed admiration for her French counterpart, noting a desire for similar actions in Denmark to ensure minors are shielded from inappropriate material.
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