Despite Norway having ensured that teens must be at least 13 to use social media, studies have revealed that children aged nine are already using social media, while 58% of 10-year-olds and 72% of 11-year-olds use apps with social media programs.
Norway’s prime minister said the country will double the age limit to 15 for teenagers to use social media as it moves to protect its children from the “power of algorithm.”
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre admits it is tough to protect teens from big tech companies, which he thought were “pitted against small children’s brains,” but political leaders have a responsibility to protect teens in the country.
Although laws in Norway set a minimum age limit of 13 for entering social media, children as young as nine years old already have accounts, with 58 percent of 10-year-olds and 72 percent of 11-year-olds using social media applications.
The government will ensure that tighter measures are in place to prevent children from doing things that defeat age checks.
For instance, the Personal Data Act will be revised, and social media users must be at least 15 years old to provide consent that their personal data will be processed by the media outlet, among other things. An age verification system will also be implemented on social media platforms.
