I now it is a bit futile, because those type of rules vil also eventually be implemented here (because it is much easier to prohibit than go for the Danish approach)
To help me explain how the subject have been approached in Denmark, at least until now, I asked Gemini for help, it is a bit lenghty, but I made some TL;DR:
TL;DR: Denmark has no general age limit for accessing porn. There's an old, unenforced law about not selling it to under-16s. The law is iron-clad that producing or sharing anything with someone under 18 is illegal. The current debate is about whether to use the national digital ID system to block access for minors in the future, but this isn't law yet.
TL;DR: Denmark's approach isn't "lax," it's a deliberate national strategy. They learned from legalizing porn back in 1969 that prohibition doesn't work. So instead of trying to block teens from viewing porn, they focus on world-class sex education that teaches them to be critical thinkers about it. The system is built on a culture of pragmatism (what actually reduces harm?) and high social trust, rather than imposing moral rules.
Needlesss to say I favour the Danish approach, but then again I come from a country where our national broadcaster's channel aimed at 4–8 year olds had this hit show running for 2 seasons in 2021 and 22:
To help me explain how the subject have been approached in Denmark, at least until now, I asked Gemini for help, it is a bit lenghty, but I made some TL;DR:
If you're trying to understand Denmark's stance on age limits for porn, here’s a breakdown that might make more sense from a US/UK perspective, as it's a bit different from the debates happening elsewhere.
1. No General Ban on Access: The most important thing to understand is that there is no law in Denmark that makes it illegal for a person to view pornography based on their age (assuming they are a teenager, not a young child). The legal focus isn't on the consumer but on the seller and the producer. This is different from, for example, the UK's approach of implementing a mandatory, universal age-gate for access.
2. The "Under 16" Sales Law is a Relic: The law mentioning a ban on selling "indecent materials" to people under 16 is still on the books, but everyone, including the official Danish Criminal Law Council, agrees it's completely outdated and doesn't enforce it. Think of it like an old, weird law you might find in a US state that was never formally repealed. It was written long before the internet and has no practical application today.
3. The Hard Line is a Clear "Under 18" Rule for Production: Where Denmark is extremely strict—just like the US and UK—is on Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), or what the law calls child pornography. The line is drawn firmly at 18 years old. Any production, distribution, or possession of material depicting anyone under 18 in a sexual context is highly illegal and strictly prosecuted. The liberal stance on adult access does not extend to this in any way.
4. The "MitID" Debate is the Real Story: The current hot topic in Denmark is whether to force porn sites to use MitID for age verification. To understand why this is a big deal, you need to know what MitID is. It's not just a social media login.
1. No General Ban on Access: The most important thing to understand is that there is no law in Denmark that makes it illegal for a person to view pornography based on their age (assuming they are a teenager, not a young child). The legal focus isn't on the consumer but on the seller and the producer. This is different from, for example, the UK's approach of implementing a mandatory, universal age-gate for access.
2. The "Under 16" Sales Law is a Relic: The law mentioning a ban on selling "indecent materials" to people under 16 is still on the books, but everyone, including the official Danish Criminal Law Council, agrees it's completely outdated and doesn't enforce it. Think of it like an old, weird law you might find in a US state that was never formally repealed. It was written long before the internet and has no practical application today.
3. The Hard Line is a Clear "Under 18" Rule for Production: Where Denmark is extremely strict—just like the US and UK—is on Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), or what the law calls child pornography. The line is drawn firmly at 18 years old. Any production, distribution, or possession of material depicting anyone under 18 in a sexual context is highly illegal and strictly prosecuted. The liberal stance on adult access does not extend to this in any way.
4. The "MitID" Debate is the Real Story: The current hot topic in Denmark is whether to force porn sites to use MitID for age verification. To understand why this is a big deal, you need to know what MitID is. It's not just a social media login.
- MitID is Denmark's national digital ID. It's issued by the government and used for everything: online banking, filing taxes, accessing health records, and communicating with all public authorities.
- Because it's tied to your legal identity, using it for age verification would be extremely effective. However, it also raises huge privacy concerns for obvious reasons, and that's the core of the debate. As of mid-2025, this is still just a proposal, not the law.
TL;DR: Denmark has no general age limit for accessing porn. There's an old, unenforced law about not selling it to under-16s. The law is iron-clad that producing or sharing anything with someone under 18 is illegal. The current debate is about whether to use the national digital ID system to block access for minors in the future, but this isn't law yet.
What might seem like a "lax" attitude in Denmark towards teenagers and pornography is actually a deeply rooted and deliberate cultural strategy. It’s less about being permissive and more about a consistent national philosophy that prioritizes pragmatism, education, and individual responsibility over moral prohibitions.
This approach is built on three core pillars:
The core argument was that adults should be free to choose for themselves and that decriminalization would strip the subject of its mystique and allow for open discussion. This event established a foundational principle in Danish society: it's often better to address a difficult topic openly than to try (and fail) to prohibit it. This mindset naturally extends to how the country approaches teaching its youth about sexuality today.
Key features of this philosophy include:
This approach is built on three core pillars:
1. A Historical Legacy of Pragmatism
Denmark became the first country in the world to legalize pictorial pornography in 1969. This wasn't a radical-fringe movement but a mainstream political decision driven by careful consideration and pragmatism. The official Danish Criminal Law Council concluded that the existing bans were simply not working. They were difficult to enforce, created a taboo that made the topic more alluring, and failed to prevent people from accessing the material.The core argument was that adults should be free to choose for themselves and that decriminalization would strip the subject of its mystique and allow for open discussion. This event established a foundational principle in Danish society: it's often better to address a difficult topic openly than to try (and fail) to prohibit it. This mindset naturally extends to how the country approaches teaching its youth about sexuality today.
2. An Educational Philosophy of Empowerment, Not Fear
The Danish model for sex education is the cornerstone of its approach. It's mandatory, comprehensive, and based on a concept called "seksuel dannelse," which translates roughly to "holistic sexual development" or "sexual literacy." This goes far beyond the biology of reproduction and STIs that often characterizes sex ed in the U.S.Key features of this philosophy include:
- Dialogue and Critical Thinking: The goal isn't to lecture students on what's right or wrong. Instead, it's to foster dialogue and give them the tools to think critically. This explicitly includes analyzing pornography to understand unrealistic portrayals, stereotypes, performance pressure, and the crucial importance of consent.
- A Focus on Well-being: The curriculum covers a broad range of topics essential for modern life: body image, consent, digital etiquette (including sexting), gender identity, and healthy relationships. Pornography is framed as just one of many media influences that young people need the skills to deconstruct.
- "Uge Sex" (Sex Week): Every year, Denmark holds a national "Sex Week" (always in Week 6), organized by The Danish Family Planning Association. This nationwide event provides all schools with cutting-edge, age-appropriate teaching materials on current topics, ensuring the conversation stays relevant.
3. Core Cultural Values: Trust, Individualism, and Pragmatism
Denmark's approach is a direct reflection of its broader societal values:- Individualism and Autonomy: Danish culture places a high value on individual responsibility. There's a deep-seated skepticism towards the state or other authorities acting as a "nanny" or moral guardian. The expectation is that individuals should be empowered to make their own choices, and this respect for autonomy is extended to young people as they mature.
- High Social Trust: Denmark is a high-trust society. There is a fundamental belief that fellow citizens, institutions, and even teenagers will generally act responsibly if given the right tools and information. The system is built on trust rather than suspicion.
- Pragmatism Over Moralism: In policymaking, Danes consistently ask, "What is the most effective way to reduce potential harm?" rather than "Is this behavior morally right or wrong?" When it comes to porn, the pragmatic conclusion is that since teenagers can easily access it anyway, the most effective harm-reduction strategy is robust education, not a ban that is easily circumvented and creates a culture of shame or silence.
TL;DR: Denmark's approach isn't "lax," it's a deliberate national strategy. They learned from legalizing porn back in 1969 that prohibition doesn't work. So instead of trying to block teens from viewing porn, they focus on world-class sex education that teaches them to be critical thinkers about it. The system is built on a culture of pragmatism (what actually reduces harm?) and high social trust, rather than imposing moral rules.
Needlesss to say I favour the Danish approach, but then again I come from a country where our national broadcaster's channel aimed at 4–8 year olds had this hit show running for 2 seasons in 2021 and 22:
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