Denmark to ban phones in schools

The Danish government announced it would amend existing legislation to make all folkeskole (municipal primary and lower secondary schools) phone-free, affecting nearly all children aged seven to 17.

The move marks a U-turn in policy, with the government having previously resisted such a ban. It aligns, however, with efforts across Europe to tighten regulations on children’s access to smartphones and social media.

The Danish wellbeing commission, established by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in 2023, published its findings yesterday, warning about the increasing digitalisation of children’s lives. The report called for a better balance between digital and analogue life, making 35 recommendations, including legislation banning phones in schools and after-school centres.

Mattias Tesfaye, the minister for children and education, told Politiken: “There is a need to reclaim the school as an educational space, where there is room for reflection.”

Local authorities may grant exceptions, such as for children with special educational needs. Mr Tesfaye confirmed that ministers had begun drafting the legislative amendment.

The commission’s research revealed that 94 per cent of young people have a social media profile before turning 13, and that children aged nine to 14 spend an average of three hours a day on TikTok and YouTube.

It found that children are increasingly affected by a comparison culture and the pressure to remain constantly available online, leaving less time for face-to-face social interaction.

The report also urged tech companies to take responsibility for protecting children from addictive designs and inappropriate content, while advising parents not to give children under 13 a smartphone or tablet.

Rasmus Meyer, chair of the commission, warned that the moment a child is given a smartphone “it will colonise the child’s entire life”.