Sweden should introduce a minimum age of 15 for social media use, a government-appointed commission recommended on Tuesday (2 June), adding to a growing movement across Europe to restrict children's access to digital platforms.
The proposal would raise the current age threshold below which children require parental consent to create social media accounts, which is currently set at 13 in Sweden.
"The reasons for introducing an age limit nevertheless outweigh the benefits of continued free access to this type of media," investigator Lisa Englund Krafft told a press conference, adding that social media companies could be made responsible for verifying users' ages.
Sweden's Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health, Jakob Forssmed, said excessive screen use had become a major challenge for young people.
"We are losing an entire generation to endless scrolling," he said.
Meanwhile, Poland announced plans to ban mobile phone use by children aged seven to 15 in primary schools from 1 September and to introduce stricter age-verification requirements for access to online pornography.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the proposed legislation would prohibit phone use during lessons and breaks, while allowing schools to establish secure storage systems for devices.
"We have a civilizational problem of addiction of virtually everyone, especially the youngest, to platforms, games, etc.," Tusk said.
A separate government proposal would require websites offering adult content to implement stronger age-verification measures while complying with privacy and data-protection rules.
Earlier this year, Poland's education ministry also outlined plans to prohibit children under 15 from using social media platforms.
The measures reflect a broader trend across Europe as governments seek to address concerns about the impact of social media and smartphones on children's mental health, concentration and behaviour.
Countries including the Netherlands, South Korea and Italy have already introduced restrictions on smartphone use in schools, while Australia became the first country to approve a nationwide ban on social media access for children under 16.
In neighbouring Norway, the government has said it plans to submit legislation banning social media use by under-16s before the end of the year.
Technology companies have generally opposed blanket restrictions, arguing that parental controls, digital-literacy programmes and targeted safeguards are more effective than outright bans.
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said talks between the United States and Iran had made "good progress", with both sides set to estab...
The visit also took on symbolic importance as the two leaders travelled to the liberated cities of Shusha and Fuzuli, areas Azerbaijan regained after ...
South Korea has announced it will accept North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting for Russia if they wish to relocate...
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited...
Authorities in France are reporting that about 20 people have died over the weekend while swimming in unsupervised areas of rivers, lakes and coastal ...
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said talks between the United States and Iran had made "good progress", with both sides set to establish working groups in the coming days to discuss sanctions relief and issues related to Iran's nuclear programme.
The visit also took on symbolic importance as the two leaders travelled to the liberated cities of Shusha and Fuzuli, areas Azerbaijan regained after decades of occupation.
South Korea has announced it will accept North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting for Russia if they wish to relocate to the South, citing international law and opposition to forced repatriation.
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
At least thirteen people have died and sixty-six have been injured following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub at Ras Laffan, authorities said on Sunday.
Cape Verde’s remarkable FIFA World Cup debut continued on Sunday (21 June) as the tournament newcomers held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha was once again at the centre of the story, this time with his mother watching from the stands.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on a landmark internet deal that will allow traffic to pass through Azerbaijani networks.It's the latest deal to highlight the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
Three students have been killed and at least seven injured after two of their peers opened fire in a high school in the Philippines, police said. A spokesperson for the police said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, had been arrested and a police pistol confiscated. Bullying is a possible motive.
South Korea has announced it will accept North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting for Russia if they wish to relocate to the South, citing international law and opposition to forced repatriation.
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Authorities in France are reporting that about 20 people have died over the weekend while swimming in unsupervised areas of rivers, lakes and coastal waters as they tried to escape the heatwave.
A shooting in Montreal, Canada has left three people dead, including a police officer, a civilian and the suspected attacker, police said.
Attendees at undeclared free parties in France could face on-the-spot fines of €1,500 ($1,713) or up to six months in prison under proposed new legislation currently being reviewed by the French National Assembly.
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