HELSINKI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nordic leaders on Tuesday called for fundamental changes to the design of social media and other digital platforms to better protect children and young people's health and development.
At a meeting in Helsinki hosted by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and attended by representatives from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Aland Islands, a joint declaration was adopted stressing the urgent need to strengthen online protection for minors.
The declaration warned that smartphones, social media and artificial intelligence pose significant risks to children's and young people's wellbeing, mental health, learning and development. The full extent of their impact remains unclear.
Children are gaining access to digital platforms too early and too extensively, and the platforms are not designed to support healthy growth and learning, according to the declaration.
Several Nordic countries are currently preparing legislation and recommendations on age limits for social media platforms.
Meanwhile, leaders also held discussions on Tuesday with students aged 12 to 14 and young politicians on the protection of children and young people in digital environments.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 78th Session of the Nordic Council, held in Helsinki from Monday to Thursday.
Finland holds the presidency of the Nordic Council in 2026, while Denmark and the Faroe Islands jointly hold the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. ■