Social media impacts on Finnish youth

Discussions in Finland regarding the impact of social media on youth have focused on mental health, consumer behavior, and safety. The Finnish government has expressed a desire to protect children from bullying, harassment, and harmful content, though experts note that national regulatory powers are limited due to the international location of many social media companies.

Research indicates that social media influences the purchasing decisions of approximately 31 percent of 15–19-year-olds, with impulse purchases being twice as common among girls as boys. While 40 percent of youth receive financial information from influencers, trust in such advice remains low at 17 percent.

Concerns regarding online safety have been underscored by a Pelastakaa Lapset survey, which found that 93 percent of guardians of children aged 6–17 view online sexual harassment as a serious problem. While 70 percent of guardians fear their children might encounter such harassment, 30 percent rate their own protective skills as weak or very weak. Additionally, 26 percent of parents feel unprepared to act if a child reports harassment, and 20 percent have not discussed the topic with their children due to uncertainty or fear of the child’s reaction.

On the legislative front, a proposal by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to restrict social media use for those under 15 was shelved due to concerns regarding efficacy and legislative timing. Meanwhile, legal developments in the United States, such as an $18 billion settlement by Meta regarding addictive services and data collection for minors, have been used as points of comparison regarding the responsibility of tech giants.