According to Seta, the proportion of what it refers to as “rainbow youth” who were targeted by school bullying – including harassment, discrimination and violence – rose slightly between 2023 and last year.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP), the Finnish public health authority THL and two-thirds of Finns are in favour of banning or restricting the use of social media by under-15s.
The All Points North podcast visits a school, examines the research, and hears an on-the-ground report from Australia in search of answers to whether Finland should ban social media for children.
If the proposal becomes law, a foreign student’s residence permit could be revoked if they receive basic social assistance, a last-resort form of financial support.