Norway is advocating for a unified European approach to introduce a minimum age of 15 for social media use, seeking to protect children and young people online. Ministers Lene Vågslid and Karianne Tung are actively engaging with EU counterparts to push for this initiative.

The proposal aims to establish a consistent age limit across Europe, addressing concerns about the impact of social media on younger users. Norway’s Minister for Digitalisation, Karianne Tung, emphasizes the importance of coordinated action within Europe to ensure effective implementation.

Denmark, currently holding the EU presidency, is positioned to bring this matter to the forefront of the European agenda. Danish Minister for Digitalisation, Caroline Stage, has expressed a willingness to challenge existing EU legislation to better safeguard children in the digital sphere, signaling a potential avenue for Norway’s proposal to gain traction.

While current Danish regulations require parental consent for social media use by individuals under 15, more stringent national rules could potentially conflict with EU legal obligations. The complexity of navigating EU legislation poses a challenge to implementing a uniform age limit.

Karianne Tung acknowledges the legal and technical complexities involved in establishing a common age limit, describing it as pioneering work. Despite the challenges, Norway is committed to pursuing this initiative, with Tung scheduled to meet with MEPs in Brussels to further discuss the proposal.

Norway’s government plans to circulate a bill proposing the 15-year age limit for consultation before the summer. Currently, the age limit for social media use in Norway is 13.