Sweden commission recommends social media ban for under-15s

Sweden Proposes Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

A Swedish government-appointed commission on Tuesday recommended introducing a minimum age of 15 for social media use, making it the latest European country to move toward restricting children’s access to online platforms amid growing concerns about youth mental health.

“Losing an Entire Generation”

Swedish investigator Lisa Englund Krafft presented the commission’s findings at a news conference alongside Social Affairs and Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed, arguing that “the reasons for introducing an age limit nevertheless outweigh the benefits of continued free access to this type of media.”wincountry

Forssmed struck a more urgent tone. “We are losing an entire generation to endless scrolling,” he said. “Screens and social media and their impact on the health of children and young people is one of the biggest challenges of our time.”globalbankingandfinance

Under the proposal, social media platform companies would be responsible for age verification, Englund Krafft said. Sweden currently requires parental consent for children under 13 to create social media accounts.wtvbam

A Growing European Movement

The recommendation places Sweden among a wave of European nations seeking to curb children’s social media use following Australia’s world-first ban on under-16s enacted in December 2025. Norway announced in April its intention to submit legislation to parliament by year-end banning social media for those under 16. Greece passed a ban for under-15s set to take effect in January 2027, while France and Denmark have also approved measures targeting young users on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.yahoo

The commission’s recommendation does not carry the force of law and will require parliamentary action before any ban takes effect. The inquiry, appointed in October 2025, was tasked with examining the feasibility of introducing an age limit for children’s social media use.twobirds

Enforcement Questions Remain

The central challenge facing Sweden and its European peers is enforcement. Several countries are exploring national digital identity systems to verify age, with Denmark considering its electronic ID system and Greece planning to use a state-built app. How Sweden would implement verification remains an open question, though Englund Krafft’s statement that platforms themselves should bear responsibility for the task signals the government’s preferred approach.avpassociation