Most Danes Support Nighttime Social Media Ban for Teenagers

Danish families with teenagers may soon see stricter limits on late-night screen time. A new survey shows strong support for restricting social media at night. About 62 percent of Danish adults support blocking teenagers from midnight to 6 a.m. Polling company Voxmeter surveyed 1,034 adults for the organisation Digitalt Ansvar.

In the survey, 15.9 percent of people remained neutral. Another 17.4 percent disagreed with the proposed night block. The European Union is preparing a new Kids Act. This proposal includes an overnight block for children aged 13 and 14. Digitalt Ansvar wants Denmark to extend the limit to age 17.

Late-night screen use disrupts sleep and affects school performance. Director Ask Hesby Holm said night scrolling leaves students unprepared for class. Aarhus University research shows more children now arrive at school tired. Tiredness is directly linked to weaker academic results in Danish classrooms. Earlier studies show screen time before bed leads to shorter, poorer sleep.

Digital Affairs Minister Christina Egelund acknowledged that action is needed. However, she questioned whether a total ban is the right answer. She noted that social media should not take away night sleep. The European Union estimates that young Europeans spend four to six hours daily on screens. (Source: CPH Post)