A large survey asked nearly 61,000 kids and young people about their use — and opinions — of social media.
A social affairs and health ministry working group was charged with finding ways to protect children and youths from the harms of social media.
Part of that work involved a large survey that asked nearly 61,000 kids and young people about the subject.
The survey queried young people between the ages of 11 and 19.
About a quarter of the 11-13 year olds said they thought it would be good to set an across-the-board age limit, while a third of their older counterparts agreed with the sentiment.
However, well over half of the children and youths surveyed said they would find ways of circumventing age restrictions in order to use social media — if the age limit was higher than their own age.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) said he supports banning social media for kids under the age of 15.
The broad survey found that nearly all of the kids and youths use social media platforms.
Loneliness fears
Twenty-nine percent of 11-13 year-olds — and 47 percent of 13-19 year-olds — reported using social media between three and five hours per day. Seven percent of the younger set — and 17 percent of the older respondents — said they used social media more than five hours a day.
The survey found respondents saying they think that they would do things like exercise and sleep more without using social media, as well as meet face-to-face more with friends.
But one-third of the younger set — and more than half of the older group — think they would be lonely more often without access to social media. Some also said their contacts with relatives would decrease.
Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen (NCP), characterised the survey results as concerning.
“Children use social media for hours a day, more than we parents understand. The survey reveals frightening numbers about the things taken away by time spent on social media,” she said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Half want families to decide
The survey also found a larger proportion of youths and kids preferring social media limits to be set at home, rather than by a national policy.
Fifty-seven percent of the 11–13-year-olds said that parents should be able to decide when children can use social media. Nearly half of 13–19-year-olds held a similar view.
About half of the 11–13-year-olds said their parents set time or content restrictions on their digital devices.
The survey respondents also identified problems related to social media that they think need solving. Among other social media dangers, they mentioned the threat of sexual violence, bullying and harassment, and seeing violent or distressing content.
The ministry’s working group submitted an interim report on the matter, including the findings of the survey.
The group is scheduled to continue working on the issue in the autumn, when they plan to turn to parents, among others, to hear their opinions. The group’s work is set to be finished by the end of the year.
Minister Grahn-Laasonen said that the government intends to proceed with the matter during this governmental term.
“Finland needs social media restrictions at the national level as well,” she said at the press conference.
Yle News’ All Points North podcast delved into the debate around the introduction of a ban on social media ban for under-15s earlier this year. Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Should Finland ban kids from using social media?
