– There are a lot of things that are posted that are not for children. Pictures and videos, and things that shouldn’t be posted. So I think an age limit on social media is quite okay. That’s what 14-year-old Johanna Risnes from Austrheim says. She is shopping at Moa in Ålesund when news meets her. On Tuesday, the government came out and said that they would introduce an age limit for the use of social media. Although one already has to be 13 years old to create a user on many platforms, there are many who use it anyway, long before they are teenagers. The government wants this to become more difficult, for example by having to register with BankID to create a user and profile. In addition, they are considering increasing the age limit. – Lots of “nude” and videos of people being injured, or fights are spread on the internet and in social media, so I think it’s a good idea, says Risnes. Children’s ombudsman: – Shuts out young people Acting children’s ombudsman Ivar Stokkereit is critical of the government’s proposal to introduce an age limit on social media. – We are afraid that young people will be banned from an arena they actively use to be in contact with each other, to obtain information, and to take part and express themselves in social debates, he says. Acting children’s ombudsman Ivar Stokkereid is critical of the government’s proposal to introduce stricter age limits on social media. Photo: Petter Larsson / news Stokkereid has not seen the specific proposal to the government, but says there are other steps the state can take to ensure safer use of social media, rather than exclusion. – Young people have the right to be on the internet. Then it is the state’s responsibility to ensure that it is a safe place to live, he says and adds: – I think the authorities have failed there. They have failed over many years to secure internet use for children and young people, and to make it safer to be on digital media. Stokkereid believes that the state has failed them. The government should rather start by introducing stricter requirements for suppliers and service providers on social media, and refers, among other things, to The Digital Service Act in the EU. – Until now, Norwegian authorities have not implemented this in Norway. It is uncertain why, and I think one can start there. Then you can assess whether it is enough, he says. What do you think should be the age limit on social media? 10 years 12 years 14 years 16 years No age limit is best Show result – Both the Minister of State and the Minister of Education point to an example where children under the age of ten get pictures of murder and war on their mobile phones. Wouldn’t an age limit simply protect against this? – It is not necessarily the case that one should exclude 14- and 15-year-olds from social media because other users are getting younger. You have to look at the totality, and assess what is in the best interests of the different age groups, he says. Now he hopes that the government will take plenty of time to formulate a possible change in the law, and that they will talk to the young people before making a final conclusion. – I think it would be a bit stupid Isabella Gangsøy (13) says she has used social media since she was ten or eleven years old. She also visited the shopping center at Moa. – I think that would be a bit stupid. Young people also like to keep up to date with what is happening in the world, she says. Gansøy says that she spends a lot of time on social media to keep in touch with friends and catch up on what’s happening. – Social media can affect you in both a good and a bad way. For example, you can get a picture you shouldn’t see, says Gangsøy. She herself says that she has not had any negative experiences with social media. Isabella Gangsøy. Photo: Sara Lovise Roaldseth / news Will get it in place quickly Education Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun (Ap) says it is not clear how the age limit on social media will work in practice. It is also not clear exactly when they will set the age limit. But what he knows is that it has to be in place quickly. – This must be in place as soon as possible, she said during Political Quarter on news on Wednesday morning. The mobile phone is not far from the Minister of Knowledge. She has been clear about her, and the government’s, desire to improve the screen habits of young people in Norway. Photo: Mats Rønning The Minister of Education says they will now consider different solutions, and look at how they can solve this in the best possible way. – Younger and younger people create profiles on social media. We know that they are exposed to murder, acts of war and violence. The whole world is on that screen. They are not mature enough to handle that. That’s why I have to put my foot down, she says. – It’s fun In Ålesund, 14-year-old Johanna Risnes is unsure whether young people will actually stop using social media, even if there are new age limits. – Maybe a little, but not at the same time. I think people will lie about their age and set up users anyway, she says. She herself got social media when she was ten, but Instagram had to wait until she was 13. – TikTok is used a lot now. It’s because people are bored. They sit and watch it and think it’s fun. But there may be scary videos, or videos about how one must look. Then people can get angry, she says. Published 03/07/2024, at 22.14
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– Young people have the right to be online – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
