Norway bans social media for children under 16

The Norwegian government announced a social media ban for children under 16, according to the Norwegian government. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said: 'We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children get to be children. Play, friendships, and everyday life must not be taken over by algorithms and screens.' He added: 'This is an important measure to safeguard children's digital lives.' Under the new rules, technology companies will be responsible for verifying the age of users, the Norwegian government said. Karianne Tung, the Norwegian Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance, stated: 'I expect technology companies to ensure that the age limit is respected. Children cannot be left with the responsibility for staying away from platforms they are not allowed to use.' She added: 'That responsibility rests with the companies providing these services. They must implement effective age verification and comply with the law from day one.'

Norway is not alone in pursuing stricter online age limits. Several European countries, including France, Spain, and Denmark, have said they will introduce a digital age of majority for social networks, according to major media reports. Australia and Turkey have already introduced such measures, major media reported. These moves reflect growing concern about the impact of social media on children's mental health and development.

In contrast, the UK has rejected social media bans for under-16s, major media reported. British MPs voted 260 to 161 against an amendment to raise the minimum age of social media usage to 16, according to major media. Education minister Olivia Bailey explained the government's position: 'There is a clear consensus across this House on the need to protect children online. But our consultation goes further than these amendments, considering a wider set of options, including risks beyond social media such as gaming and AI chatbots. It is not a question of whether the Government acts, but how the Government acts to deliver strong and enduring protections for children online.'

At the European level, the European Commission unveiled an age-verification app in mid-April, according to the European Commission, as reported by major media. The app aims to provide a standardized way to verify users' ages across the EU, though details on how it will work and when it will be available remain unclear.

In Norway, the government reported that the number of children with phones or using social media had declined due to measures including national screen-time guidelines and recommendations for mobile-free schools, according to the Norwegian government. This suggests that non-legislative approaches can also be effective.

Meanwhile, the Christian Democratic Party (KrF) in Norway proposes a 13-year age limit for buying smartphones, according to KrF, as reported by major media. This proposal differs from the government's focus on social media age limits, indicating an ongoing debate within Norway about the best way to protect children online. The exact age at which Norwegian children typically get smartphones, according to Medietilsynet, is not specified in the claims.

In neighboring Sweden, the Moderate Party (Moderaterna) believes that children under 15 should not be on social media, according to Moderaterna. It remains to be seen whether this proposal will lead to legislation.

Several unknowns remain. The specific age verification methods that will be required from tech companies in Norway have not been detailed. The timeline for the Norwegian bill's presentation and enactment is also unclear. Additionally, it is uncertain whether the Swedish Moderate Party's proposal will result in formal legislation. The European Commission's age-verification app's functionality and release date are also pending clarification.