Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and his Moderate Party have announced support for implementing a 15-year age limit for social media platforms. The proposal would restrict access to major platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube for users under 15 years old.
Kristersson stated that the verification system should be "at least as secure as Systembolaget's 20-year controls," referring to Sweden's state alcohol monopoly. He added, "15 years seems natural to me."
It should be at least as secure as Systembolaget's 20-year controls
The Swedish government has already appointed a special investigation to examine the possibility of introducing an age limit for social media. A preliminary report is expected in June, though the Moderate Party has already declared its support for the measure.
According to Kristersson, the age limit would need to be credible and difficult to circumvent while maintaining user privacy. He acknowledged that teenagers "won't love this" and emphasized the need for consensus among adults for the policy to work effectively.
15 years seems natural to me
The proposal aligns with international trends, as countries like Australia and Malaysia have recently implemented 16-year age limits, while France is moving toward a 15-year limit. The issue is also being discussed at the EU level.
In Sweden, several other political parties including the Social Democrats, Christian Democrats, Liberals, and Center Party have previously expressed support for some form of age restriction on social media.
if it's easy to bypass, it becomes completely meaningless