Norway to introduce bill banning social media for under-16s
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Norway announced it will present a bill this year to ban social networks for individuals under 16, making it the latest country to implement such a measure. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store stated the legislation aims to ensure children's childhoods are not dominated by algorithms and screens, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding their digital lives. The bill will hold technology companies responsible for verifying user ages. Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Tung stressed that companies providing these services must implement effective age verification and comply with the law, rather than placing the responsibility on children. Other European countries like France, Spain, and Denmark have also indicated plans for a digital age of majority for social networks, while Australia and Turkey have already enacted similar bans. The European Commission is also working on protecting children and adolescents online, having unveiled an age-verification app. The Norwegian government noted that previous measures, such as national screen-time guidelines and recommendations for mobile-free schools, have already led to a decrease in children's social media use.
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