January 31, 2026
Finland vs Feeds: who blinks first?
Finland to end "uncontrolled human experiment" with ban on youth social media
Parents cheer, privacy hawks snarl, and pedants yell “looks to” as Finland weighs an under‑15 shutdown
TLDR: Finland is considering an Australia‑style ban on social media for under‑15s, backed by two‑thirds of the public and warnings it’s an “uncontrolled human experiment.” Commenters are split: some cheer a kid‑free feed, others reject ID checks, pitch ad bans, or joke about making apps unbearably annoying.
Finland’s leaders are flirting with an Australia‑style ban on social media for under‑15s, and the comments section went full soap opera. Supporters are waving schoolyard receipts: Finnish schools already cut phones during class, and staff say kids are more active and social. Researchers warn this is an “uncontrolled human experiment,” noting spikes in self‑harm and eating disorders, and that Finnish kids got smartphones shockingly early. Meanwhile, Australia’s already pulled the plug for under‑16s after a tragic case—raising the stakes.
But the community? Deliciously divided. One camp is all for it, but the headline cops a fact‑check: users insist Finland only “looks to” ban it, not done yet. Privacy hawks are on DEFCON 1: one commenter backs rules only if they don’t require ID or creepy age checks, pitching instead a ban on ads targeting kids. Chaos agents clap back with a villain‑origin‑story vibe: make verification so annoying even grown‑ups quit scrolling. Another poster gets wistful, saying their teen network vanished and maybe that’s a blessing in disguise—less cringe to haunt adulthood. And tucked in the thread: a raised eyebrow that Finland needed a law just to let schools ban phones in the first place.
Bottom line: Finland’s debating a kid‑free feed, and the crowd is split between “save the kids,” “don’t ID me,” and “nuke the apps from orbit.” Popcorn, anyone
Key Points
- •Finland is considering restricting or banning social media use by under-15s, supported by PM Petteri Orpo, THL, and two-thirds of surveyed Finns.
- •A 2024 Finnish law allows schools to restrict or ban mobile phones during school hours; FISTA adopted a full ban except for classroom learning.
- •FISTA reports increased student physical activity, creativity, and social interaction since limiting phone use.
- •Researcher Silja Kosola calls youth social media exposure an “uncontrolled human experiment,” citing rises in self-harm, eating disorders, and gender-based value divergence, and notes very high early smartphone ownership in Finland.
- •Australia has banned under-16s from major social media platforms since 10 December last year; PM Anthony Albanese advanced the legislation following a mother’s letter after her daughter’s suicide.