Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced plans to ban social media use for children under 15, warning that online platforms are: “stealing our children’s childhood.”

Speaking at the opening of parliament this week, Frederiksen said the proposal would restrict access entirely for under-13s, while allowing parents to approve limited use for those aged 13 and 14. The move follows Denmark’s recent decision to ban cell phones in primary schools and after-school programmes, a measure recommended by a government well-being commission.

Frederiksen cited rising rates of anxiety and depression among young people and said smartphones have led to declining concentration and social engagement. “We have let a monster loose,” she said, adding that 60% of Danish boys aged between 11 and 19 reportedly do not see a single friend in person during their free time in a given week.

Denmark joins a growing list of countries tightening regulations around children’s online access. Australia enacted a similar law last year banning social media for those under 16, and Norway is weighing a comparable proposal. If passed, Denmark’s law would make it one of the strictest measures in Europe to curb youth exposure to social media.