First reading of the draft resolution of the Riigikogu, "Proposal to the Republic of Estonia's Government to carry out an analysis of the impact of young people’s social media use" (550 OE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-02-10 19:17
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 30
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 52m
AI Summaries: 30/30 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The presentation focuses on the review of the draft resolution 550, presented by the Center Party faction in the Riigikogu, for its first reading, and the need to conduct an analysis of the impact of young people's social media use. The discussion focuses on the issues of young people’s mental and physical health, raising parental awareness, increasing substantive safety and awareness, and comparing experiences in Europe and the rest of the world with different regulatory models. The draft does not foresee immediate restrictions, but rather the preparation of a comprehensive overview and analysis within 12 months, and, if necessary, corresponding decisions in the Riigikogu based on that analysis.
At the meeting, various views were discussed regarding the extent and manner in which social media affects young people's lives, the role of the home and school structures, and the usefulness of a government-level analysis before the implementation of potential restrictions or legislative measures. Discussions covered the balance of using smart devices, the risks and opportunities of social media, the existence of research, and the need to involve experts and raise awareness among young parents. Ultimately, a motion was put forward and a vote was called for January 28th – but the vote showed that the draft did not receive the majority of votes in the Riigikogu composition, and further proceedings were postponed.
Decisions Made 2
It was decided to add the draft to the plenary session agenda on January 28th and to appoint Heljo Pikhof as the representative of the steering committee.
The final vote, taken with a majority of the Parliament's composition: 5 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstentions; bill 550 rejected.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Member of Parliament Lauri Laats (faction of the Estonian Centre Party), who is seen as the initiator of the bill and the focus of the debate. His role is primarily as a representative and initiator for his faction; position in the Riigikogu: other.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
As the final item on today’s agenda, the first reading of the Riigikogu decision draft No. 550, presented by the Centre Party faction, will take place, the content of which is an analysis of the impact of young people’s use of social media, and the rapporteur is Riigikogu member Lauri Laats.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats submitted a draft resolution to the Riigikogu, the purpose of which is to conduct an analysis of the impact of young people’s social media use and to prepare an action plan within 12 months to raise awareness, protect children from content risks and nutisickness (internet addiction), and, if necessary, consider restrictions in accordance with international examples.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
They thank for the substantive presentation, report on the questions, and ask Vadim Belobrovtsev to respond.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev asked whether the bill under discussion imposes restrictions or takes something away from children, and whether its content is actually something else, discussing the dangers of the virtual world and the protection of children's rights.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The aim of the draft bill is to obtain an expert-led, thorough study and a holistic picture of the impact of social media on young people, distinguishing the beneficial learning potential of smart devices from the possible problems of social media, and to develop solutions, if necessary also in accordance with the Australian model.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invited Helmen Kütt to perform.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt thanks with respect and emphasizes that the topic is extremely important, and she prefers solutions that have been developed, studied, and implemented in accordance with the analysis, and asks whether, in preparing the draft, it was known which plans existed or what had already been done.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasizes that although the use of young people's smart devices has been studied extensively, there is no comprehensive picture of the impact of social media and platform regulation, and it is necessary to know to what extent children participate in this large commercial enterprise and how unprotected they are.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asked Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti to speak.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart said that she does not support a similar speech-suppressing measure that occurred in Australia, but the topic needs to be studied and its impact on children's mental health and attention span assessed, and to address the misinformation and manipulation prevailing on social media, and to emphasize the need to teach young people in school how to distinguish fake from real.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasizes that decisions on youth issues should be based on a holistic picture, and there is a need to develop the ability to distinguish truth and to increase analytical capacity against misinformation and AI-based deception.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech is merely a plea for Hele Everaus to come onto the stage.
Hele Everaus
AI Summary
Hele Everaus notes that today’s youth are increasingly facing mental health problems, and they are confronted with dilemmas and searches for truth, behind which lies one major reason, which may become a serious concern for the younger generation.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The fast information age creates developmental problems for young people, therefore Lauri Laats emphasizes the importance of parental awareness and guidance and discusses the need to regulate social media, recommending the creation of a working group to find solutions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
They thank and announce that there are no further questions, and ask Heljo Pikhofi, the chair of the Culture Committee, to present at the Riigikogu's speaking desk the discussion in the steering committee and the decisions made there.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Riigikogu Culture Committee discussed Bill 550 and found that it does not prohibit anything, but maps the situation and possible further solutions related to youth social media use, the rules of schools, and the development of digital competence, and by consensus decided to place the bill on the plenary agenda on January 28 and designated Heljo Pikhofi as the chair of the lead committee.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks and invites questions, asking Lauri Laats to step forward.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats said that in the committee they reached the conclusion that the main message is young people's use of social media, which they do mainly at home and which takes more than four hours per day, and he asked how we personally feel about it and how we should handle it in the future.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Pikhof notes that studies conducted both in Estonia and elsewhere clearly show the impact of social media on wellbeing and mental health, which is addressed in the European Commission's plans, in Estonia's 2023 Human Development Report, in analyses by the World Health Organization, and in private-sector studies of schoolchildren.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is called upon to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He asks a colleague how the matter was assessed in the committee — whether the general understanding was more positive and whether it was decided by consensus that the bill should go to the plenary session, and whether the coalition MPs take into account that the chamber might be empty for the vote, since this is a matter brought by the opposition.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof said that the topic is timely, and the Culture Committee naturally welcomed the raising of the issue, but regarding the studies listed in the explanatory note, the opinion was that enough research has been done and a step forward should be taken.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks, concludes the questions, opens negotiations, and gives the floor to Vadim Belobrovtsev on behalf of the EK faction.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev stated that the goal is to give the government the opportunity to conduct an impact assessment of children's social media risks, in order to evaluate psychological, cyber and privacy risks and, if necessary, steer the solutions rather than ban useful applications.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanks and asks to take the floor on behalf of the Heljo Pikhofil faction.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
In the digital age, we must strike a balance between young people's use of smart devices and their well-being, and implement adaptable national frameworks with the involvement of schools and parents to ensure a safe and supportive environment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asked for two more minutes.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof emphasizes that regulating the use of smart devices is not a ban, but the creation of awareness and balance, and the task of lawmakers is to create a strong and sensible framework that enables schools, homes, and communities to grow responsibly and healthily in the digital world of young people.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The negotiations have ended, no amendments were submitted, and we are proceeding to the final vote on the Riigikogu decision draft No. 550 presented by the EK faction, the purpose of which is to conduct an analysis of the impact of young people's use of social media for the Government of the Republic.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Five members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, none against and none abstained; since Draft Bill 550 required a majority of the Riigikogu's seats to be adopted, it was defeated.