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.
Foreign ministers meeting in Istanbul on Friday warned that renewed military strikes on Iran could deepen the regional conflict, urging diplomatic ...
Georgia’s Constitutional Court has extended hearings in a case seeking to ban five opposition parties, with proceedings now set to continue u...
Pakistan and the European Union have agreed to step up counterterrorism cooperation as security concerns over Afghanistan grow and tensions between...
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Russia is willing in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States in November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Israeli military bulldozers have begun demolishing buildings in the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, 23 October, following armed clashes with Palestinians that left two Israeli soldiers dead, according to the Israeli military.
Super typhoon Champi is set to batter Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture from Friday (23 October), bringing violent winds, torrential rain and waves up to 11 metres high, as airlines cancel flights and organisers scrap a major festival.
Armenian authorities have detained 10 more people in a vote-buying investigation involving the opposition Strong Armenia party, just two days before local elections in the northern town of Stepanavan.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met India’s Minister of External Affairs in Baku for talks on strengthening bilateral relations, with a focus on trade, investment, energy and technology.
Israeli military bulldozers have begun demolishing buildings in the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, 23 October, following armed clashes with Palestinians that left two Israeli soldiers dead, according to the Israeli military.
Greece’s parliament has passed a bill banning under-15s from using social media from 1 January 2027, as the country steps up efforts to protect children online. The new law will require platforms to enforce age restrictions.
France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Friday that 70,000 security forces would be mobilised throughout the country to keep order on Saturday, adding there have been calls for looting and violence from the ultra-left.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment