Parents at Henriette Hørlück School in Odense embrace social media ban for children under 13

As the morning light filters in, a diverse group of parents gathers outside Henriette Hørlück School, arriving by various means including cargo bikes, on foot, and in Teslas. Among those willing to discuss the school’s new policy on children’s screen use, most express a positive outlook, though a few harbor reservations.

Hasan Sahin, a father of a six-year-old student, commends the initiative. Before the autumn break, the school distributed a contract asking parents to endorse a ban on social media for children under 13, both at school and at home. Sahin signed the contract immediately, acknowledging that while his son is too young for social media now, this may change as he grows older.

The school is a private international institution in Odense, accommodating 470 Danish and 230 international students. The contracts, initially sent to the Danish section, have been signed by parents of 125 children by Monday. The document specifies platforms like Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Fortnite, urging parents to mirror the school’s social media ban at home until their children reach 13.

Christian Schlette, whose children are seven and 12, is also supportive, noting that they already monitor their kids’ screen time closely. However, some parents express skepticism. Henrik Møller Madsen, an IT consultant, is hesitant to sign, as he’s unsure he can uphold the restrictions for four to five years, especially since his daughters are already on some platforms.

Anders Skov, a father of two boys who enjoy gaming, also declines to sign, criticizing the broad scope of the policy that includes games alongside social media, finding it unfair for siblings not to play together. The contracts are set to influence future dialogues concerning any breaches of the established rules.