Finland's government is launching a preparatory effort to restrict social media use for children and young people, with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo advocating for a ban for those under 15. The State Council Office's preliminary report, completed Thursday, examines methods to reduce the harms of social media but concludes that an Australian-style age-based restriction would be difficult to legislate and enforce nationally, as regulation of major online platforms falls under EU competence. Social and Health Services Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen will now lead the follow-up preparation, looking to models from Denmark, which is preparing a 15-year age limit for social platforms.
A Policy Response to Widespread Concern
The move formalizes growing political anxiety over the impact of algorithms and constant connectivity on young people's mental health. The preparatory work will consider a range of measures, from strengthening media education to potential usage restrictions based on age. While a direct ban is not seen as the primary tool, the preliminary report lists usage limits among possible follow-up actions. This places Finland among several European nations, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Spain, actively exploring legislative solutions to the same problem. The complexity of regulation is increased by the practical question of which platforms would be restricted, with the report suggesting messaging apps like WhatsApp could potentially be excluded from any ban.
The Central EU Roadblock
The core challenge for any Finnish national law is the supremacy of European Union digital regulation. The preliminary report explicitly states that while Australia's experiences with restrictions for under-16s are important to monitor, a similar model cannot be implemented nationally in Finland because the regulation of large online platforms is an EU-level matter. This creates a significant tension between national political will and supranational legal reality. The report emphasizes the need to closely watch how Denmark plans to implement national regulation in relation to EU rules. Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen echoed this, stating, "We are closely monitoring how similar preparations progress in Denmark, Sweden, and Spain. What unites all countries is that legislation must be compatible with EU law."
Defining the Scope of a Potential Ban
Beyond the legal framework, practical implementation poses major questions. The report highlights the difficulty in defining which platforms would fall under restrictive measures. A broad ban on all social media services could be seen as disproportionate and unenforceable, while a narrow one might simply shift user activity to non-restricted platforms. The mention of possibly exempting messaging applications indicates the government is aware of the need for nuanced definitions that distinguish between public content-sharing platforms and private communication tools. Furthermore, any age-verification system would need to be robust enough to withstand circumvention, raising significant data privacy and technical implementation concerns that must align with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Political Will Versus Practical Reality
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has been a vocal proponent of an under-15 ban, framing it as a child protection issue. However, the preliminary report from his own government's administration tempers this ambition with legal and practical caution. This sets the stage for a potentially lengthy and complex legislative journey where Finnish objectives must be carefully woven into the ongoing EU digital policy fabric, including the Digital Services Act (DSA). The follow-up preparation led by Minister Grahn-Laasonen will therefore be a tightrope walk, balancing domestic political pressure for strong action with the immutable constraints of Finland's EU membership. The outcome will likely serve as a case study for how member states can navigate this evolving policy space.
The Path Forward in Helsinki
The next phase of work will be divided among several ministries, indicating a cross-governmental approach recognizing the issue's links to health, education, culture, and justice. The Finnish model will likely emphasize a combination of tools rather than a single, blunt ban. Strengthening digital literacy and critical media education in schools is expected to be a cornerstone, potentially paired with stricter enforcement of platform terms of service regarding minimum ages and increased parental guidance resources. The government's commitment to following other European nations' leads suggests a coordinated Nordic or EU-wide solution is the desired end goal, rather than Finland acting as a lone pioneer in restrictive legislation.
A Test of EU Cohesion on Digital Policy
Finland's deliberations ultimately highlight a broader European dilemma. As public concern over social media's impact grows, national governments face pressure to act swiftly. However, the single market's digital rules are designed to prevent a patchwork of 27 different national regulations that could fragment the internet and stifle innovation. Finland's careful stance—preparing national measures while explicitly acknowledging EU primacy—illustrates this tension. The effectiveness of the eventual Finnish policy package may depend less on Helsinki's actions alone and more on the evolution of platform regulation and age-verification standards at the European Parliament and European Commission level in the coming years.