What's right: mobile phone ban in Danish schools

ARA City Radio

Denmark will ban mobile phones in schools and after-school clubs following recommendations from a government commission. The move also advises against giving children under 13 their own smartphones or tablets. The new law will require all folkeskole—comprehensive primary and lower secondary schools—to become phone-free, affecting children aged 7 to 16-17. This marks a significant policy shift, as the government had previously resisted such measures. The decision aligns with broader European efforts to regulate children’s screen time and social media exposure. In 2023, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen established the Danish Wellbeing Commission to address rising dissatisfaction among youth. Its recently published report highlights concerns over digital overexposure and calls for a healthier balance between online and offline life. The commission’s research found that 94% of young people had a social media profile before turning 13, despite age restrictions on many platforms. Additionally, children aged 9 to 14 spend an average of three hours daily on TikTok and YouTube, increasing their exposure to harmful content, social pressure, and addictive designs. Among its 35 recommendations, the commission urged a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools and after-school programs. It also called for stricter regulations on tech companies to protect children and advised parents to delay giving their children smart devices until at least age 13. Commission chair Rasmus Meyer likened the ban to prohibiting smoking in schools, warning that smartphones can dominate a child’s life. While local authorities may allow exceptions for special needs students, Meyer emphasized that phones “do not belong in school, neither during breaks nor lessons.” Denmark follows the lead of France, which banned phones in schools in 2018, and Norway, which recently introduced a minimum age of 15 for social media use to safeguard young minds.