Norway considers raising social media age limit to 15 amid children’s safety concerns

Norway is taking steps to ban social media access for children under the age of 15, according to reports from VG newspaper and NRK. This initiative arises out of increasing concerns regarding the well-being of children, as social media platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive and expose younger users to inappropriate content.

Currently, users must consent to the use of their personal information when opening a social media account, with the minimum age for this consent set at 13 in Norway. The government is proposing to raise this age limit to 15, which would require changes to the legislation governing the sharing of personal data.

Norwegian authorities acknowledge that social media is not as safe for children as it should be. Organizations like Save the Children and the Finnish Child Welfare Association (MLL) assert that the internet is not designed with children’s rights and safety in mind. They emphasize the urgent need for solutions to enforce age restrictions, especially since even younger children are using these platforms.

Paula Aalto from MLL highlights the role of technology companies in this issue, noting that they benefit from underage users who engage with their platforms by clicking links and sharing personal data. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has expressed that protecting children from the negative aspects of social media is a significant challenge.

Researchers, such as social media expert Suvi Uski, support Norway’s idea of a legal age limit but stress that the dangers of social media affect the entire population. Uski indicates that solutions must be developed across the board to ensure the preservation of democracy and societal cohesion, as social media conversations often tend to be divisive rather than constructive.