COPENHAGEN, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Denmark will ban the use

of social media for children under the age of 15, the Danish

government said on Friday, although parents will be allowed to

give dispensation for youngsters down to the age of 13 to access

certain platforms.

The move follows Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's call in

her opening speech to parliament last month for social media

restrictions for children due to concerns over youth mental

health.

"The so-called social media thrive on stealing our

children's time, childhood and well-being and we are putting a

stop to that now," Digitalization Minister Caroline Stage Olsen

said.

A majority of parties in parliament said they would back the

plan ahead of a formal vote.

The platforms most used by children in Denmark include

Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, the government said.

According to an analysis from the Danish competition and

consumer authority from February this year, youngsters in the

Nordic country spend on average 2 hours and 40 minutes every day

on social media.

Denmark follows the likes of Australia, which last year

imposed a ban on social media for children under 16.