Last fall, the government appointed an inquiry, led by Lisa Englund Krafft, which was tasked with reviewing the possibilities of introducing an age limit on social media.
The investigator now proposes that the government introduce an age limit, from the year a person turns 15.
Big challenge
The investigation suggests that children and young people under the age of 15 should not have access to logged-in mode on online platforms that enable users to discover, connect with, and communicate with each other, or where content can be shared or discovered.
It will be the responsibility of major social platforms to ensure that users logged into their apps or on their websites are of the correct age.
Screens and social media, and their impact on the health of children and young people, are one of the biggest challenges of our time, says Forssmed at a press conference.
Research shows that social media negatively affects young people’s mental health.
Many children and young people experience terrible things on their mobile phones, says Forssmed, adding:
Protecting the health and safety of children and young people has been a priority for me and the government.
Age limits on social media have been introduced in several places around the world and 35 countries are working on the issue, according to UNICEF.
Australia was the first to act, introducing a 16-year-old age limit on ten social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, in December last year.
Since then, several countries have followed suit. The Philippines, Denmark, and the United Kingdom are among those planning to introduce stricter age restrictions on social media.
Great support
In Sweden, there is strong political support for an age limit. The Social Democrats’ party leader Magdalena Andersson said last October that she wants to see a 15-year age limit.
“We have previously regulated other addictive products. We need to do the same here,” she said.
In Sweden, children under 13 must currently have parental consent to create social media accounts.
The report will now be sent for consultation. According to the proposal, the law will come into force on 1 January 2028.
“If I continue in my role, I will push to get this in place sooner,” says Forssmed.
