The school minister wants to see age limit for some social media

In the Gulf of Skåne, 200 parents have come together in one Pact about not giving their children smart mobile phones before the age of 14. Last week, the founders were visited by School Minister Lotta Edholm (L).

– There are such initiatives all over the country, it is a popular movement. It was very exciting to hear their reflections on the use of social media, she says after the visit.

The parents in the bay are not alone in feeling anxious about how children are affected by social media, says the school minister.

– There is more and more research that is actually showing black on white that this is deeply harmful and that we are actually experimenting with children’s brains now in a way as if it had been research had been completely unreasonable and unethical.

She points to two problems: firstly, the screen time takes time from other activities, and that children can meet content that is addictive and harmful.

– I don’t think we can stick our heads in the sand anymore and say we need to know more. Now I think you can conclude that this affects our children in such a way that it is unreasonable that it may only continue.

Therefore Lotta Edholm wants that Sweden follows in Australia’s tracks. The country has recently decided to ban Social media for children under the age of 16 and in connection with the Social Minister Jakob Forssmed (KD) to DN, the government will closely follow Australia. But the Liberals and Lotta Edholm are already for Swedish legislation on an age limit of 15 or 16 years.

– I mean that the apps that are addictive and which convey harmful content for children should not be allowed to target children, that children should not be able to access it. What should go below that definition needs to be investigated, she says.

– But it is about algorithms that are made for the user to stay as long as possible in front of his screen. I do not think this is stranger than we have legislation that says that children are not allowed to buy alcohol or have a bicycle helmet. Children have to be children.

How is it going to work technically?

– You have to investigate that carefully and it will be interesting to see how Australia plans to solve it. We must remember that we are not alone in having this discussion. It is going on in lots of countries and when I meet my European colleagues it is a question that you are constantly returning to. I would say that virtually all European school ministers are deeply worried. There is a great discussion and it is because these platforms take no responsibility whatsoever.

Lotta Edholm says she would prefer to see European legislation or greater responsibility from the tech companies.

– But it is clear that we must also act on our own.

How do you view the children’s perspective – does an age limit risk violating the Convention on the Rights of the Child?

– I think the most important part of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is the right of children to be a child. Just as we have age limits at the cinemas, it is a right for children not to have to access materials created for adults. I think much of that argument is just stupidity, the adult world has a responsibility to ensure that children are doing well.

Read more:

200 parents in pact: no smart phones to the kids

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