The Swedish Liberal Party (Liberalerna) has proposed new measures to help parents limit children's screen time, according to reports from April 10, 2026. Equality Minister Nina Larsson announced four specific proposals aimed at supporting parents in what she described as a battle against "the internet giants."
The proposals include establishing a national counseling line and chat service for parents, making parental controls mandatory as standard on all new mobile phones and tablets, providing specialized support for young people with social media addiction in healthcare, and increasing resources for civil society organizations.
We need to do more to support parents against the internet giants. This is not something we from the political or societal side can leave parents alone in.
"We need to do more to support parents against the internet giants. This is not something we can leave parents to handle alone from the political or societal side," Larsson reportedly stated.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns about a "sleep crisis" among Swedish youth. According to the Public Health Agency, nearly six out of ten young people now go to bed after 11 PM, compared to about one in six during the 1980s. The agency has identified screen time before bedtime as a significant risk factor for poor sleep habits.
Social Minister Jakob Forssmed (Christian Democrats) has echoed concerns about the sleep crisis, stating that increased awareness and concrete guidance are necessary. The Public Health Agency recently issued new sleep guidelines recommending 9-11 hours of sleep for children aged 6-12 and 8-10 hours for teenagers aged 13-17.