Finnish parties clash over social media age limits for children

Finnish coalition partners are divided over proposals to restrict social media use for children. Members of the National Coalition Party are advocating for legislative changes, such as amending data protection laws to set age limits at 15 or 16, to protect minors from online harms.

Ville Kaunisto, Deputy Chair of the National Coalition Party parliamentary group, emphasized the urgency of the issue, citing the rise in online sexual crimes and grooming targeting younger children. He argued that society has an obligation to make it harder for criminals to reach minors through social platforms.

In contrast, Finance Minister Riikka Purra of the Finns Party expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of such legislation. She argued that without the active cooperation of major social media platforms and tech companies, political decisions and laws would have limited effectiveness. She pointed to a recent decision in France, where a ban on social media for those under 15 was overturned by a constitutional council, as a cautionary example.