Norway plans to increase the minimum age for social media use from 13 to 15 and enforce stricter regulations to protect children from harmful online content and data collection practices.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the policy aims to safeguard minors from the “power of algorithms” and the pervasive influence of tech giants.
With over half of Norway’s nine-year-olds currently using social media, Store believes the updated rules will send a strong signal about the importance of shielding children from online risks.
Under the new regulations, platforms like Netflix and other digital services will be restricted from collecting personal data from minors under 15, and an age verification system will be introduced.
The proposed legislation also aims to support parents in managing their children’s social media use.
Families Minister Kjersti Toppe noted that parents often struggle to limit their children’s screen time, feeling pressured by the pervasive influence of technology.
By bolstering “parental authority” through stricter laws the country hoped to empower families and help protect young users from excessive screen exposure and potential online harms.
Image credit: Getty Images
This technology is leading us into the gulags.