Denmark is the latest country to take aim at Big Tech, announcing plans on Friday to restrict access to social media for users under the age of 15.
As reported by the Associated Press, the measure will not take effect immediately, but the details of how the ban will be enforced remain unclear. Denmark is reportedly planning to roll out an age verification app as part of the enforcement plan, and allow parents to see access to 13-year-olds after going through a vetting process.
The move puts Denmark in line with a growing list of countries introducing similar measures as concerns about the impact of social media on the mental health of young people continue. Australia has become the first nation to create a national social media network for children, set to take effect this December. That ban would have platforms like Tiktok, Snapchat, and reddit on the hook for the hook of up to $ 50 million USD) if he fails to follow the spear.
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In the US, there is no nationwide limit, but several states have passed or proposed legislation to limit the use of social media among children. Those laws vary — Nebraska, for example, requires parental consent for anyone under 18 to open an account — and many are now being challenged in court on First Amendment concerns.
If Denmark’s plan goes well, it could change the balance of power between the government and large technology companies like meta, opening a new one in the global war where it bears the responsibility of age verification – platforms, parents, or app stores.
