Norway plans to ban social media for children under 16

The Norwegian government has proposed a ban on the use of social media for children under 16 and to require technology companies to verify the age of their users, reports NRK.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that the goal of the initiative is to protect children from the influence of algorithms and digital platforms.

According to him, children at this age should not be exposed to technologies designed to maximize user attention retention, and the responsibility for safety should lie with both states and companies.

It is expected that the bill will be introduced within the year and, with parliamentary support, could come into effect next year.

It is also noted that the implementation of the initiative will require the development of mechanisms provided for by the European Digital Services Act (DSA), including mandatory age verification of users.

Authorities warn that companies failing to comply with the new requirements may face fines and sanctions.