Denmark has no legal framework enabling and encouraging young people’s participation in political processes electronically.

The youth-targeted campaigns presented here, is an exception to the above.

One key instrument is the citizens’ initiative scheme (Borgerforslag), introduced in 2018, which allows citizens to submit policy proposals electronically. If a proposal collects 50,000 digital signatures from eligible voters, Parliament is obliged to debate it. The scheme is frequently used by young people and youth organisations, particularly on issues such as climate policy, education and mental health.

Digital tools are also widely used in election-related information and mobilisation campaigns targeting first-time voters. Public authorities, municipalities, youth organisations and public service media employ websites, social media platforms, videos and SMS campaigns to raise awareness of democratic rights and encourage electoral participation among young people, including those with a migrant background or in socially vulnerable situations.

Ministries and public bodies use online surveys, digital youth panels and social media dialogue to gather young people’s perspectives on specific policy areas. While these initiatives are typically project-based and not legally regulated, they contribute to broadening youth participation by lowering access barriers and facilitating dialogue through digital channels. 

The Children and Youth Panel (Børne- og Ungepanelet), established in 1998, is the National Council for Children’s panel. The Children and Youth Panel is a regular online survey among 5.000 young people in the 8th form from 215 schools from all over Denmark. Twice a year, the Children and Youth Panel fill in a survey on a topic chosen by The National Council for Children (e.g. mental well-being, divorce, financial crisis). Conclusions from the surveys are used when the council formulates hearing statements and participate in the public debate.

The Media Council for Children and Young People (Medierådet for børn og unge) is a national council that classifies films for children under the age of 15 and provides guidance on children’s and young people’s use of computer games and digital media.

Since 2016, the Media Council has had a regular youth panel consisting of 10 average young people in the 13-15 age group with no experience from pupil’s councils, etc. The 10 young people came from all over Denmark.

The Youth panel dealt with young people’s use of social media and digital technologies. The panel published its recommendations to adults on how to guide young people in the use of social media. The panel had no political decision-making competences. The panel presented their recommendations to the minister of culture and other relevant stakeholders.

As of 2018, The Media Council has changed the composition and structure of the youth panel, since it is difficult to gather the young people. Every year, the Media Council and its partners select an entire class based on Save the Children’s school network. The class advises the Media Council and partners regarding social media and digital technologies.

In the process of developing the recommendations, the Media Council consults the Centre for Digital Youth Care’s online chat group, Gruppechat dk, as a measure to reach vulnerable young people and to improve the representativeness of the recommendations.