In a new initiative to combat addiction to social media, Minister of Digitalization Marie Bjerre (V) proposes stricter regulations in the area. This comes in the wake of a new study from the National Institute of Public Health, which shows that up to 86,000 Danes struggle with a real addiction to social platforms like Facebook and TikTok. The study, which includes 1958 people between the ages of 16 and 64, reveals that 2.3 percent of participants have a consumption that can be described as addictive. This consumption is characterized by impacting work or studies, and individuals feeling restless if they do not have access to their social media.
“It is a frighteningly high number, and it underscores the need to take action now,” says Marie Bjerre. The Minister proposes regulations to curb the algorithms that tech giants use to retain users’ attention. In addition, there are also proposals for the introduction of age verification across the EU, so that children are prevented from creating profiles on platforms like TikTok.
Marie Bjerre admits that she is trying to limit her own use of social media to work-related activities, but acknowledges that it can be difficult to avoid being caught up in content like Facebook’s ‘reels’ or Instagram Stories. “We have long known that there was a problem, and now we have data that can help us create a more responsible use of technology,” says the Minister of Digitalization. With these new initiatives, the government hopes to create a healthier digital environment for Danes and particularly protect young people from the potentially harmful effects of excessive use of social media.