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A large-scale Nordic study: Children under 13 should not use AI, say the Nordics

Published26 Mar 2026

Reading time 3 min

Finns, Swedes and Danes take a critical view of children’s and young people’s use of artificial intelligence, according to a recent study by the technology company Solita. Four out of five (81 percent) believe that children under the age of 13 should not be allowed to use AI. In addition, 39 percent think that children should start using AI tools no earlier than at the age of 16. One in ten respondents (11 percent) believe that children should not use AI tools at all.

Very few Nordics, only 6 percent, believe that starting to use AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini would be appropriate for children under the age of ten. According to the study, Swedes are even more critical than Finns and Danes when it comes to children’s use of AI.

Solita’s new report is based on responses from more than 3,000 office and knowledge workers in Sweden, Finland and Denmark, collected by Kantar Media.

There has recently been an active global debate about young people’s use of social media. Australia has banned social media use for children under the age of 16, and in many European countries, such as Denmark and the Netherlands, the issue is being discussed critically and restrictions are being considered.

The new study shows that in the Nordics, there is also a cautious attitude towards children’s and young people’s use of AI tools at an early age.

“The research results clearly show that media and AI literacy are highly valued in the Nordic countries. Using AI tools may seem ‘childishly easy’ on the surface, but in reality, it requires the development of a wide range of cognitive skills and the ability to question different types of content,” says Lasse Girs, Head of Solita’s AI Studio.

“I fully understand why people take a cautious approach to children’s use of AI. Caution is justified in light of existing research. Studies conducted with adults suggest that when using AI, people tend to rely less on critical thinking and problem-solving. The use of AI also appears to weaken memory retention and may therefore have a significant impact on learning. As for children, there is not yet enough high-quality research on how AI use affects brain function,” says neuroscientist and Doctor of Psychology Mona Moisala.

About the survey

The survey behind the report How AI is transforming Nordic work life 2026 was conducted by Kantar Media on behalf of Solita between 30 October and 11 November 2025. The survey includes more than 3,000 office workers in Sweden (n=1,037), Finland (n=1,042), and Denmark (n=1,019), using nationally representative online panels (ages 20–65).

The report builds on Solita’s 2024 survey in Finland and Sweden and, for the first time this year, includes Denmark, enabling comparisons across all three Nordic markets.

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