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 Jan. 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.