Estonia opposes social media ban on children

While restrictions on children’s use of social media are becoming increasingly common in Europe, Estonia stands out as one of the rare countries that does not participate in this trend. The country’s education minister, Kristina Kallas, stated that social media bans will not be effective in protecting children and that young users will quickly find ways to overcome such obstacles. This approach offers a different perspective against the strict regulations that have come to the fore in many countries recently.

The effects of social media on children have been discussed for a long time. Research reveals that heavy use is linked to a variety of problems such as depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and obesity. Encouraging unhealthy food consumption, especially through targeted advertising, is considered one of the notable factors among these risks. However, it is also known that social media platforms offer young people the opportunity to find support, socialize and communicate with people who have similar experiences. Therefore, the issue requires a multidimensional approach rather than a one-way evaluation.

Many countries are resorting to outright bans in order to reduce these risks. In a wide geography ranging from Australia to France, from Spain to Denmark, regulations limiting or completely banning the use of social media by certain age groups have been introduced or put into effect. Although age limits vary by country, the basic approach is to keep children away from digital platforms.

Estonia puts regulatory responsibility on companies and the state

Estonian Minister of Education Kristina Kallas argues that this approach does not correctly identify the source of the problem. According to Kallas, instead of expecting children to limit their own behavior, the main responsibility should lie with technology companies and public authorities. Speaking at an event held in Barcelona, ​​Kallas stated that children will be quick to circumvent the bans and pointed out that such measures may be ineffective in practice.

In addition, Kallas also stated that the European Union did not act strongly enough against large technology companies. Stating that Europe actually has a significant power in regulation, the minister argued that this power should be used more effectively. As a matter of fact, the EU stands out on a global scale in supervising the technology sector with the regulations it has enacted in the field of digital services and competition. Despite this, a common approach has not yet been clarified on how to proceed in the use of social media for children.

On the other hand, criticisms of bans are not limited to the issue of effectiveness. Some experts state that such restrictions may pave the way for steps that may narrow wider areas of freedom over time. Discussions that VPN use may also be targeted following the social media ban on people under the age of 15 in France are among the examples that strengthen these concerns. Because in order for a ban to be implemented, it must also be prevented from being technically circumvented, and this may bring about more comprehensive digital restrictions.