We are letting 15-year-olds loose on social media, where many young people encounter harmful images and videos. Now politicians want to create a new authority that can serve as the adult protector.

Is a new tech ombudsman the answer to this sense of powerlessness?

Enhedslisten and the government want new legislation that would make harmful content illegal. Foto: Jens Dresling (sammensat)

This is the problem that won’t go away. One account after another of harmful images and videos flourishing on social media has not led to effective intervention.

»I’m not going to try to pretend to anyone that this is easy«, said Digitalization Minister Christina Egelund (Moderaterne, M) when Politiken reported this summer on how TikTok and Instagram recommend videos to Danish girls that glorify or provide guidance on eating disorders, self-harm and suicide.

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Is a new tech ombudsman the answer to this sense of powerlessness?

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