The Swedish government has launched an investigation into setting a minimum age for children's first smartphone, tasking the Public Health Agency with reviewing the evidence and potentially proposing a rule, recommendation, or guideline. According to Aftonbladet, Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed said the agency will examine the knowledge base and, if supported, produce proposals for when a child should receive their first smartphone. A partial report is expected by June 30 this year.
Current data highlights the prevalence of smartphones among Swedish children: 90% of 10-year-olds and 95% of 11-year-olds have a smartphone, according to major media reports. Forssmed expressed concern about this trend, noting that a smartphone is worse than a tablet or computer because it is constantly present. According to Aftonbladet, he described a shift from a play-based childhood to a smartphone-based childhood, calling smartphones a "notification machine that is constantly connected."
We see how tech companies have their tentacles in children's hands and pockets.
Research and international precedents support delaying smartphone access. Forssmed stated that researchers he has been in contact with indicate reasons to delay the age of first smartphone, personally noting that they mention an age of 13-14 years. Denmark and Finland have already set 13 years as a guideline by various authorities, according to Forssmed. The minister also noted that Sweden has the most sedentary children in the Nordic region, partly due to early smartphone adoption.
After the investigation, the Public Health Agency will disseminate information to the public. The government has not yet specified whether the recommendation will be voluntary or legally binding, nor how it will be enforced. The timeline for a final recommendation beyond the June 30 partial report remains unclear. Forssmed suggested that the guideline could shift the burden of justification: according to Aftonbladet, he said that those who want to introduce a smartphone earlier would have to justify it, rather than parents who want to wait.
We want the Public Health Agency to review the knowledge base, and if there is support for it, produce proposals for a rule, recommendation or guideline for when one should have their first smartphone.
We view with concern a development where children have gone from a play-based childhood to a smartphone-based childhood. They have a notification machine that is constantly connected.
We want to be modern and that has also led to us giving children smartphones very early in Sweden. We also now have the most sedentary children in the Nordic region.
I can for my own part note that the researchers I talk to about this, then it is about 13-14 years.
Then those who want to introduce a smartphone earlier have to justify it, rather than the parents who want to wait having to justify it to their children or to other parents.