seniorspectrumnewspaper – Denmark has announced a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools and after-school clubs. Following recommendations from a government commission on child wellbeing. The policy also advises that children under 13 should not own a smartphone or tablet to reduce screen dependency.
The Danish government will amend existing laws to enforce phone-free environments in all folkeskole schools. Which include primary and lower secondary education. This means that students aged 7 to 17 will be legally required to leave their phones at home or store them away during school hours.
Why Denmark Changed Its Stance on Mobile Phones
This decision marks a policy reversal, as the government previously resisted calls for a legal ban on mobile phones in schools. However, growing concerns over children’s mental health, screen addiction, and academic focus have pushed lawmakers to take action.
The move aligns with broader European efforts to restrict children’s access to phones and social media. Several countries have introduced stricter regulations to protect young people from online harm and improve their social interactions.
Findings from the Danish Wellbeing Commission
The Danish Wellbeing Commission, established in 2023 by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, played a key role in shaping this policy. The commission conducted studies highlighting the negative effects of smartphone use among children, including increased anxiety, reduced concentration, and declining social skills.
By banning mobile phones in schools, Denmark aims to enhance student wellbeing. This encourage face-to-face interactions, and create a better learning environment. The government hopes this step will set a precedent for other nations looking to address similar challenges.
Denmark to Ban Mobile Phones in Schools to Protect Children’s Wellbeing
Denmark is taking decisive action to reduce children’s screen time by banning mobile phones in schools and after-school clubs. The government’s decision follows the long-awaited report from the Danish Wellbeing Commission. Which highlighted the negative impact of excessive screen use on children’s development.
Balancing Digital and Offline Life
The commission’s report, published on Tuesday, called for a better balance between digital and analogue life. Among its 35 recommendations, it urged the government to legislate a nationwide phone ban in schools and after-school programs.
Minister for Children and Education Mattias Tesfaye emphasized the importance of reclaiming schools as learning spaces. “Schools should be places for reflection, not an extension of the teenage bedroom,” he told Politiken.
While the policy will be strict, local authorities may grant exceptions for students with special educational needs. However, Tesfaye made it clear that mobile phones and personal tablets do not belong in school, either during breaks or lessons.
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Why Denmark is Banning Phones in Schools
Negative Effects of Excessive Screen Time
The commission’s research revealed that 94% of children have a social media profile before age 13, despite platform age restrictions. It also found that children aged 9 to 14 spend an average of three hours daily on TikTok and YouTube.
The Risks of Early Social Media Use
Excessive screen time exposes children to comparison culture, social pressure, and harmful content, the commission warned. It also reduces time spent on physical activities, family interactions, play, and reading, all essential for healthy childhood development.
Tesfaye acknowledged that Denmark had been slow to act, but recent research has made the government more aware of screen time’s long-term consequences. The government has already begun drafting legislation to enforce the phone ban, making Denmark one of the strictest countries in Europe on mobile phone regulations for children.
Denmark Pushes for Stricter Tech Regulations to Protect Children
Denmark’s Wellbeing Commission has called for tougher regulations on tech companies, arguing that they must protect children from addictive design and harmful content. The report also urges parents not to give children a smartphone or tablet before the age of 13, emphasizing the risks of early exposure to digital devices.
Rasmus Meyer, chair of the commission, compared the proposed phone ban in schools to previous bans on smoking, stating that giving a child a smartphone allows it to “colonize the child’s entire life.” The recommendation aligns with similar findings from a French report in 2023, which also advised against children using smartphones before age 13.
Several European countries have already taken steps to limit phone use among children. France banned primary and secondary school students from using phones on school premises in 2018 and is currently testing a “digital pause” for children under 15, requiring them to hand in their phones upon arrival.
Norway recently announced a strict minimum age limit of 15 for social media use, arguing that tech companies are exploiting children’s brains through addictive algorithms and targeted content. As more governments take action, Denmark’s proposal reflects a growing European movement to reduce children’s dependence on digital devices and promote healthier childhood development.
