Faroe Islands continue age-limit plans despite EU setback

The Faroe Islands will continue work on protecting children and young people from social media, Prime Minister Beinir Johannesen told KVF, despite an obstacle from the European Commission.

Nordic leaders said on Tuesday they would work towards setting age limits for social media and removing mobile phones from schools. But the European Commission has said the EU will not approve new laws by individual member states restricting social media for at least the next 12 months.

Denmark, Sweden and Finland are EU members and may have to wait for common EU legislation. Christel Schaldemose, a Danish member of the European Parliament, told DR that legislation is unlikely before 2029.

In the Faroe Islands, a working group is preparing recommendations on protecting children and young people from technology companies. The recommendations are expected to reach the political authorities in early 2027, after which the governing coalition can consider how to proceed, Johannesen said.

Johannesen said he could not say when an age limit for social media might be introduced. The Ministry of Education is also working to clarify rules on mobile phones in schools, he said, adding that more information would follow soon.