Norway moves forward with social media age limit for children

The Norwegian government said Thursday it would proceed with plans to restrict children's access to social media after receiving positive feedback from the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority (ESA).

Under the proposed law, people would be allowed to access social media from January 1 of the calendar year in which they turn 16, according to a government press release.

"We are safeguarding children's digital lives and will introduce an age limit for the use of social media," Minister of Children and Families Lene Vagslid said, adding that feedback from the European Commission and ESA had been positive and useful.

Norway plans to enforce the national age limit within the framework of the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), under which social media platforms would be responsible for verifying users' ages.

The government received feedback from ESA on August 5 and from the European Commission on August 10.

According to the release, neither the EU's e-Commerce Directive nor the DSA prevents Norway from adopting a national age limit, provided that the legislation does not impose additional obligations on social media providers.

The government aims to submit the bill to the Norwegian parliament before the end of this year.

The proposal forms part of a broader government effort to improve children's digital environment, including recommendations to reduce screen time and smartphone use, strengthen oversight of digital marketing targeting children, and discourage the use of mobile phones and smartwatches in schools.

Norway is not an EU member but participates in the EU single market through the European Economic Area.