Addressing the Screen Problem in the Nordic Region: Strategies for Combating Screen Overuse
In a concerted effort to safeguard the health and development of children, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway have established stringent screen time regulations and recommendations. These guidelines, which share a common Nordic focus on balancing digital media use with other crucial activities, aim to protect children from the potential harms of excessive screen time.
Denmark, Sweden, and Norway all agree on the importance of avoiding screen time for children under two years old. Furthermore, they recommend limiting screen use before bedtime and during nighttime to protect sleep and overall wellbeing. A growing concern about the harmful effects of commercial digital media has sparked calls for more stringent regulatory measures, beyond just user responsibility.
General screen time recommendations for children in these countries emphasize age limits, balanced use, and mental health safeguards. For instance, in Denmark, the minimum age for social media usage is commonly set at 13, with parental consent regulations. Sweden places a strong emphasis on children's mental health, sleep, and balanced digital use, with discussions surrounding the Digital Services Act for online safety. Norway, on the other hand, is in the process of raising the parental consent age for social media accounts from 13 to 15, in a bid to better protect younger children.
School settings are not explicitly regulated at a national level in Denmark and Sweden, although they are part of the broader guidelines encouraging balanced use. However, Norway has made a notable effort to integrate screen time policies within educational settings. The Norwegian Directorate of Education issued recommendations in February 2024, calling for mobile phone-free classrooms and break times at primary and secondary schools.
Sweden is set to propose a school smartphone ban in March 2025, following a consultation and a parliamentary bill that could lead to a national ban at the start of 2026. Meanwhile, Denmark has announced plans to pass a law this year banning smartphones and tablets in schools.
The Nordic countries have pledged to do more at a Nordic level to address the impact of screen time on children's health and wellbeing. For home settings, general advice aligns with setting clear screen time limits, enforcing screen-free times, and promoting age-appropriate content. These practices echo research-backed guidance for healthy media use.
In summary, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway are taking decisive action to protect children from the potential harms of excessive screen time. By implementing age limits, encouraging balanced use, and safeguarding mental health and sleep, these countries are setting a global example for responsible digital media use among children.
In the pursuit of promoting children's overall wellness, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway are emphasizing the importance of preventing screen time for children under two years old and limiting nighttime use for better sleep. Furthermore, these countries are collaborating on broader guidelines that include age limits, balanced usage, and mental health safeguards for digital media, mirroring research-backed advice for healthy media use in home settings.
