Key facts
- A Swedish government commission recommended a minimum age of 15 for social media use.
- The proposal suggests platform companies would be responsible for age verification.
- The current age limit in Sweden is 13, requiring parental consent.
- The recommendation aims to address concerns about children's health and well-being.
A government-appointed commission in Sweden has recommended the introduction of a minimum age of 15 for the use of social media platforms. The proposal, announced on Tuesday, aims to address concerns about the impact of social media on children's health and well-being, with investigator Lisa Englund Krafft stating that the reasons for an age limit outweigh the benefits of continued free access. Social Affairs and Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed emphasized the challenge of 'endless scrolling' and its effect on young people. The commission suggests that platform companies could be made responsible for age verification. Currently, Sweden has a limit of 13 years, requiring parental consent for children to create social media accounts. This move follows similar efforts in other European nations, with Norway planning to submit a bill to ban social media use for under-16s by year-end.