The party believes it is a big problem that many children have users on social media where they are not really old enough to be. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok all have an age limit of 13. But half of all children between the ages of 9 and 11 are on social media, figures from the Norwegian Media Authority show. – It is easy to lie about your age to create an account. Therefore, we believe the age limit must be followed by requirements for registration and logging in with a verifiable solution, such as BankID, says Storting representative for KrF, Olaug Bollestad. On Monday, they put forward a representative proposal for the Storting. WILL TIGHTEN UP: Bollestad believes that the age limit on social media is not enforced today, and wants to give parents a tool that is the same for everyone. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB In the proposal, they ask the Government to put forward a proposal for a real 13-year limit for social media, with requirements for registration and logging in with BankID or similar solutions. The party also wants parental consent to be introduced for children aged between 13 and 16 who are to be on social media. Connecting social media to mental illness – Today we are unable to enforce the 13-year age limit. We know that half of nine- and ten-year-olds are there. We are concerned that children should be children. The algorithms in social media do not shy away from marketing to children, says Bollestad. She links the increase in psychological problems among children and young people to, among other things, the use of social media. Depression and anxiety among young people in Norway has doubled in the last ten years, according to an NTNU study on mental health. The study showed that girls struggle the most – 44 percent of teenage girls in Norway stated that they are stressed and have heavy thoughts. In 2010, Instagram saw the light of day. The following year, Snapchat arrived. Research shows that the mental health of young people around the world has deteriorated since then. Bollestad also believes that social media can facilitate bullying and exclusion. – One word can be enough to make you feel like crap. Likes or dislikes and descriptions of what you look like can hang over you forever. We have to do something about this. Wants a real age limit She believes the regulation with BankID will make it the same for everyone, and lead to parents being under less pressure. – This will give parents a tool. If no one is supposed to be there until they are 13, then no one is there. Then there will be no outsiderness either, says Bollestad. POSSIBLE SOLUTION: KrF believes that identification with, for example, BankID can solve the problem of children under the age of 13 being made users in social media where they are not really old enough. Photo: NTB She believes logging in with BankID can also solve other problems. – Then you also get rid of fake profiles and you are sure who is coming in, she says. She also points out that children do not always understand the consequences of what they do on social media. – As a young person, you can post pictures or do things that become irreversible afterwards, says Bollestad. – An important part of young people’s lives Clara Julia Reich is a research fellow at the Consumer Research Institute SIFO, OsloMet. She researches how children and young people use social media and how they are influenced. Reich believes that social media is an important part of many children’s and young people’s everyday lives. – Young people keep in touch and can build friendships, agree when and where to meet, get inspiration for their leisure activities and are entertained. IMPORTANT: Clara Julia Reich researches children and young people’s belonging on social media. She believes it is an important arena for building friendships and keeping in touch. Reich says the connection between children and young people’s use of social media and mental health is a complex issue. – It is complex to look at how social media affects young people’s mental health since there are many factors that come into play. Such as, for example, in which context young people use the platform and which platforms they use, says Reich. Working with politics She adds that the 13-year limit on many social media is primarily about privacy – about how much and what the companies are allowed to collect about the users. – Regulating the age limit thus means putting the spotlight on privacy, but not necessarily on how challenges can be handled on social media. She says political work is already being done with challenges on the platforms. – Both in Norway and in the EU, work is being done politically and in research on issues related to the digital everyday life of children and young people. Last year, an ordinance was passed on digital services which, among other things, means that children and young people will no longer receive tailored advertising. TIGHTENING: Last year, the EU adopted a regulation on digital services (Digital Service Act), which, among other things, means that children and young people will no longer receive tailored advertising. Photo: NTB – May limit young people Reich believes the introduction of BankID will limit young people. – Regulating access to social media in itself instead of regulating challenges on platforms takes away opportunities from young people. It could possibly create tension among young people who find ways to avoid restrictions and those who relate to such an arrangement. She believes that children with high digital competence will find ways to get around the system. – It is often possible to find ways to avoid such solutions, for example it is possible to use a VPN to change location, to ask elderly family members or friends for access or to use the access for others, says Reich. The scholarship holder also sees challenges in keeping up with developments if BankID is introduced. – Social media develops quickly and introducing such a solution would require a great deal of effort by following which new platforms appear. It would not least require the integration of such solutions into the platforms that require resources.
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