According to Forssmed, speaking at a press conference, children have moved from a play-based childhood to a smartphone-based childhood, describing smartphones as "a notification machine that is constantly connected." He noted that smartphone use affects sleep and mental health, and argued that a smartphone is worse than a tablet or computer because it is constantly present.
Forssmed said that researchers he has been in contact with indicate there are reasons to delay the age at which children get their first phone. He personally noted that the researchers he talks to suggest an age of 13-14 for getting a smartphone. "I can for my own part note that the researchers I talk to about this, then it is about 13-14 years," he said.
The minister did not specify what concrete actions or policies he plans to take based on these concerns, nor did he provide details on the specific research or studies he referred to. The current average age at which Swedish children get their first smartphone remains unclear.