Norway today became the latest country to announce a social media ban for children.
The country’s government said it will present a bill this year that will ban social networks for under 16s, adding that technology companies will be responsible for verifying the age of its users.
‘We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children get to be children. Play, friendships, and everyday life must not be taken over by algorithms and screens,’ Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in a statement.
‘This is an important measure to safeguard children’s digital lives,’ he added.
Several European countries, such as France, Spain, and Denmark have already said they will introduce a digital age of majority for social networks and others like Australia and Turkey have already done so.
But many others, like the UK, have rejected social media bans for under-16s.
The European Commission, meanwhile, made clear its determination to take action to protect children and adolescents, notably by unveiling in mid-April an age-verification app that will soon be made available to European citizens.
‘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,’ added Norwegian Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Tung.
Norway’s government said it will present a bill this year that will ban social networks for under 16s (File image of teen on her phone)
Norway today became the latest country to announce a social media ban for children (File image of a harbour in Oslo)
‘That responsibility rests with the companies providing these services. They must implement effective age verification and comply with the law from day one’.
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The Norwegian government said the number of children with phones or using social media had declined due to a host of measures it had already taken, including ‘national screen-time guidelines and recommendations for mobile-free schools.’
Earlier this week, British MPs once again rejected plans to ban social media for under-16s.
The vote was the third time parliament denied the passage of the measure.
MPs voted 260 to 161 against an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would’ve raised the minimum age of social media usage to 16 within a year.
Education minister Olivia Bailey told the Commons that a comprehensive consultation was needed before any measure to restrict social media were put in place
She said: ‘There is a clear consensus across this House on the need to protect children online.
‘But our consultation goes further than these amendments, considering a wider set of options, including risks beyond social media such as gaming and AI chatbots.
‘It is not a question of whether the Government acts, but how the Government acts to deliver strong and enduring protections for children online.’
