Sweden Considers Raising Social Media Age to 15

Sweden might soon require kids under 15 to get a parent's okay before joining social media. A government group recently said this could help protect young users from endless scrolling and its effects on their health. Right now, Swedish kids can sign up at 13 with parental permission. But officials believe waiting two more years would be better for their well-being. Other European countries are watching this closely. Norway, for example, plans to propose a similar rule by the end of this year. Australia already set the highest limit, barring kids under 16 from social media entirely. Sweden could follow this lead or create its own version. The big question is how to enforce these rules. One idea is to make social media companies check users' ages when they sign up.Experts warn that social media can harm young minds. Endless scrolling might hurt their focus and mental health. Some kids struggle to stop once they start, leading to less sleep and more anxiety. Sweden’s health minister compared this issue to past fights against smoking or unhealthy eating. The goal isn’t to ban social media entirely but to delay its heavy use until kids are older. Not everyone agrees with the idea. Some parents worry about extra rules when screen time is already a daily battle. Others ask if banning platforms will just push kids toward harder-to-track apps. And what about kids who use social media safely? Should they lose access too? The debate isn’t just about age limits. It’s about how much control kids should have over their online lives. Sweden’s move could set a trend, but it won’t be easy to get it right.