Members of the Riigikogu have formed a group to help parents and children themselves reduce the negative impact of social media.
The head of the parliamentary group, Madis Kallas, said that children spend too much time on social media. He added that something must be done about this. Currently, there are not enough tools, but the group can help.
Kallas mentioned that the problem has been addressed for about a year. In Australia, a ban on social media for minors was implemented. In Estonia, various parties have emphasized that action needs to be taken.
The group can collaborate with scientists, educational institutions, children's organizations, mental health organizations, and the police. Estonia also has cyber police officers.
The existence of the parliamentary group provides organizations with the opportunity to collaborate with the Riigikogu. This is not a matter for one party but has broader support.
Currently, the group includes Social Democrats, Center Party members, and one member from the Reform Party. Kallas hopes that representatives from other parties will join as well.
Kallas stated that recently a draft was passed, asking the government to develop measures for children's mental health and cyber safety.
In the European Union, the Digital Services Act (DSA) was adopted in late 2022. Kallas believes that it has not been sufficiently implemented. He also addressed the minister and the government regarding this issue.
Kallas said that major social media companies have thousands of employees who aim to keep users on their platforms.
Parties view the mitigation of social media's negative impact differently. Some believe that focus should be on digital hygiene. Kallas thinks that this is not enough.
On January 9th, a conference on Australia's social media ban will be held in the Riigikogu. Kallas mentioned that this month is a good time to review the first concerns.
The head of the parliamentary group is Madis Kallas, and the deputy head is Mario Kadastik.