The coalition of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) and the "Progressives" supports the proposal from "New Unity" to begin developing regulations that would limit children's access to social media and harmful, inappropriate content on the internet.
As stated by the leader of the ZZS faction in the Saeima, Harijs Rokpelņis, the ZZS believes that on this issue, "we need not only to start a discussion but also to make real decisions."
He reminded that the Saeima has already approved an initiative to limit the use of mobile phones in schools, so the ZZS also supports restrictions on children's use of social media, similar to what Australia has already done, while Denmark and France are preparing to introduce such restrictions.
The leader of the "Progressives" faction, Andris Šuvajevs, noted that it is especially important to protect children under 12 years old by limiting their access to social media.
"However, as with any other restriction or ban, it is necessary to develop regulations that will be effective, while a significant share of responsibility must be taken on by parents," said the deputy.
"New Unity" believes that restrictions on children's access to social media are necessary to protect their health and safety in the digital environment. Research in recent years and expert opinions indicate a direct link between excessive use of social media at an early adolescent age and an increase in mental health risks associated with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and low self-esteem. Children are also vulnerable to cyberbullying, harmful content, and scammers.
"Latvia is already one of those EU countries that have introduced strict restrictions on the use of smartphones in educational institutions. These restrictions have improved the situation in schools, so it is necessary to seek solutions on how to protect children outside of school," the party stated.
