The Norwegian government has announced a ban on social media for children under 16, with technology companies required to verify the age of users. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the legislation aims to ensure children can enjoy childhood without being dominated by algorithms and screens. The legislation, which has not yet been presented to parliament, will place the burden of enforcement on tech firms rather than parents or children. Karianne Tung, the Norwegian Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance, said technology companies must ensure the age limit is respected and implement effective age verification from day one.
Norway is not alone in pursuing stricter digital age limits. Several European countries, including France, Spain, and Denmark, have announced a digital age of majority for social networks, according to multiple reports. Australia and Turkey have also introduced similar measures. In Sweden, the Moderate Party wants a clear age limit for social media for those under 15, the party said. These moves reflect a growing consensus among governments that children need stronger protection from the potential harms of social media, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and excessive screen time.
However, not all countries are following the same path. The UK has rejected a ban on social media for under-16s, according to multiple reports. British MPs voted 260 to 161 against an amendment to raise the minimum age of social media usage to 16. Instead, the UK government is pursuing a broader consultation on online child safety. Education Minister Olivia Bailey said there is a clear consensus on the need to protect children online, but the consultation goes further than the amendments, considering risks beyond social media such as gaming and AI chatbots. This divergence highlights the lack of international consensus on the best approach to regulating children's digital lives.
At the European level, the European Commission unveiled an age-verification app in mid-April to protect children online, the Commission said. The app is intended to provide a standardized way for platforms to verify users' ages across the EU, potentially complementing national laws like Norway's. However, details on how the app will be implemented and enforced remain unclear. In Norway, the government has already taken steps to reduce children's screen time. According to the Norwegian government, the number of children with phones or using social media in Norway has declined due to measures such as national screen-time guidelines and mobile-free schools. These earlier efforts may have paved the way for the more stringent ban.
The debate over the appropriate age for digital restrictions is not settled within Norway itself. The Christian Democratic Party (KrF) proposes a 13-year age limit for purchasing smartphones, according to the party. This contrasts with the government's 16-year limit for social media use, indicating a lack of consensus on the appropriate age for digital restrictions. The KrF's proposal focuses on the device itself rather than the platforms, suggesting a different philosophy about how to protect children. Meanwhile, Norwegian children get smartphones earlier than almost all other European children, according to Medietilsynet, the Norwegian media authority. This early adoption of smartphones may have contributed to the urgency of the government's action.
Several unknowns remain about the Norwegian ban. The specific age verification methods that will be required from tech companies have not been detailed. It is also unclear when exactly the bill will be presented to the Stortinget and when it will take effect. The rationale behind the KrF's proposed 13-year limit for smartphones versus the government's 16-year limit for social media has not been fully explained. Additionally, how the European Commission's age-verification app will be implemented and enforced across member states is still uncertain. The UK's consultation on online child safety includes measures beyond social media bans, but the specific measures have not been disclosed. These gaps leave room for further debate and development as countries navigate the complex challenge of protecting children online.