Denmark Sets 15-Year Minimum Age for Social Media Use

A political consensus has been achieved on a national minimum age of 15 years to register on some social media platforms by the Danish government. The Ministry of Digitalisation announced it on November 8, 2025. This decision marks a significant change in how the country handles online child protection.

Under the agreement, individuals under 15 years old will be prohibited from self-registering on designated platforms. Children aged 13 and 14 may access social media only if a parent or guardian permits them.

Reportedly, Digitalisation Minister Caroline Olsen has called this agreement “ground-breaking.” She further stated that, “Denmark is now leading the way in Europe with a national age limit for social media”.

The rationale behind the policy points to the erosion of young people’s offline time and well-being. Minister Olsean cited alarming statistics: 94% of Danish children under 13 reportedly have a social media profile, and more than half of children under 10 are already active online.

Complementing the age rule, the agreement includes measures to tighten digital “gate-keeping”: monitoring offensive content, preventing aggressive marketing to minors, and limiting the use of children in advertising.

In practical terms, enforcement will lean on Denmark’s advanced digital infrastructure. The government plans to use its national electronic ID system and create or require age-verification tools for online platforms. In case of rules being violated, the regulated social platform may face liability for non-compliance with age checks up to 6% of its yearly turnover across the globe, as provided in the EU Digital Services Act (DSA).

Despite consensus on the law, some key points still need to be established. For instance, such as which platforms the law will cover, when it will be implemented, and how it will be verified.

According to reports, Minister Olsen indicated that the legislation “won’t take effect right away” because the government is concerned about making it concrete and ensuring there are no loopholes.

The Regulation of Social Media Age Limits Worldwide

Denmark has recently decided to strengthen online age restrictions. This shift towards protecting children online reflects a growing trend worldwide and the need to enforce regulations to remain compliant.

As seen in 2025, Australia has proposed a decree to prevent children below the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms. Social media sites may need consent from the parents to register the accounts of children. They will also require strong verification tools to ensure compliance with the federal regulations.

Meanwhile, France has also passed a legislation known as Law No. 2024-449 in 2024. This requires everyone to undergo age verification to access adult content. The law has been notable for strengthening parental supervision for minors.

Several states in America, including Utah, Texas, and Arkansas, have made laws that require parents to give consent for minors under 16 to sign up for social media accounts.

Lastly, introduced in 2023, the UK’s Online Safety Act requires tech companies to evaluate and address potential risks to children through verified age checks.

Such efforts highlight an international move to go digital in child protection, and the policy in Denmark is the first nationwide, cross-platform minimum age in the EU.