Norwegian government proposes 15-year age limit for social media usage amid concerns from Consumer Council

In October, the Norwegian government announced plans to implement a 15-year age limit for social media usage, citing the need to protect children from harmful online content. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized that children are vulnerable against major tech companies and stressed the importance of stringent regulations.

The initial proposal aimed to restrict data consent to individuals aged 15 and older, alongside efforts to develop a technical age verification system. However, the Consumer Council has published a report opposing this move, arguing that implementing age restrictions could lead to significant exclusion, impacting not only children but also adults.

Inger Lise Blyverket, the council’s director, warns that technical age verification might be impractical and could inadvertently force children onto less regulated platforms, exposing them to even more harmful content. She believes it is essential to manage online interactions without isolating children and young people from societal engagement.

Minister Kjersti Toppe acknowledged the complexity of enforcing such age restrictions and the importance of considering citizens’ rights, such as participation in social and political discourse. She advocates for discussions on how to protect children without limiting their access to information and social discourse.

Rather than enforce strict age verification, the Consumer Council urges improvements in regulating tech companies, advocating for a ban on excessive online surveillance and addiction-inducing mechanisms. They suggest that existing laws should be enforced more rigorously.

The government aims to address age limits within privacy laws and suggests that discussions might yield actionable insights by spring 2024, though the technical age verification system appears further off, possibly not materializing until 2025.