European Parliament concerned about children's screen time and social media
The EPP Group in the European Parliament has raised concerns regarding the increased screen time of children and young people. According to experts, constant smartphone use and social media scrolling can have a detrimental effect on children's well-being and ability to concentrate.
The core message of the campaign is to encourage children to reduce their use of online services and spend more time on other types of activities. The EPP Group emphasizes that children should not have to fight against addictive algorithms designed to keep users on apps for as long as possible.
Parents also play an important role in this development. Parliamentary representatives urge parents to set clear limits on children's device usage. The goal is to create a safer digital environment where technology does not dominate a child's daily life or leisure time.
The discussion on children's digital well-being is also timely in Finland, where the effects of smartphones on schooling and youth mental health are currently being considered. A broad social debate is taking place on the subject, and parental support is considered one of the key factors in achieving change.