Norway announced on Friday, its plans to present a bill in parliament by the end of the year to ban children from using social media until they turn 16. Technological companies would be responsible for age verification. According to the Norwegian government, the aim of the bill is to reduce the negative effects of social media and to protect the mental health of children. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere made the statement while visiting a family with children in Oslo along with two of his ministers.
“We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children get to be children,” said Stoere, “Play, friendships, and everyday life must not be taken over by algorithms and screens. This is an important measure to safeguard children’s digital lives.”
“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,” Norwegian Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Tung added, “That responsibility rests with the companies providing these services. They must implement effective age verification and comply with the law from day one.”
The government further said the number of children with phones or social media had declined due to a number of measures it had taken over the years, including “national screen-time guidelines and recommendations for mobile-free schools.”
The apps targeted in the bill are yet to be announced. Australia’s ban includes Instagram and Facebook of Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, Google’s Youtube, and X, formerly known as Twitter.
After Australia announced the world’s first ban on the matter last year, several European nations, including France, Spain, and Denmark are following suit.
The European Commission expressed its determination to take action to protect children and adoloscents by launching an age verification app in mid-April that would be made available to European citizens.
