- Access to AI will be limited in Norway for children under 13
- Guidelines come into effect in September
- From the age of 13, AI can be introduced “cautiously”
Governments are not the only ones fighting against children’s access to social networks: Norway has now decreed that generative AI should be effectively banned for schoolchildren until the age of 13.
Starting in September, children in grades 1 to 7 (primary school, under 13 years old) “will generally not have access to AI,” according to the official decision translated from Norwegian (via PK Press Club). From the age of 13, “AI can be used gradually and carefully”, provided that teachers have received the necessary training.
Although the Norwegian government acknowledges that AI can be beneficial for learning in certain scenarios, the statement emphasizes that basic reading, writing and math skills must take precedence – and in these areas, Norwegian children’s skills and grades have declined in recent years.
“Research shows that uncritical use of generative AI in schools increases the risk of skipping important learning steps,” explains the official statement translated from Norwegian. “Younger students lack the knowledge, critical thinking, and self-regulation needed to use AI well.”
Norway imposes virtual ban on AI in primary schools r/technology
Phones have been banned from classrooms in Norway since 2024, and the restrictions on AI use come after social media was banned for under-16s earlier this year – following a similar move by Australian authorities in 2025 and corresponding legislation that the UK plans to implement from next year.
The safety of social media and generative AI is under increasing scrutiny from governments and regulators around the world, particularly when it comes to children and young people. The UK’s proposed social media ban also includes guidelines on how AI should also be used among younger people.
Many apps and platforms are taking preventative measures: ChatGPT already has robust parental controls and a lower age limit of 13, for example. Meta, meanwhile, is experimenting with using more AI to better detect the age of its users, so that relevant limits and restrictions can be put in place.
The general consensus online seems to be that it’s the right decision. “This ban might actually force some brain cells to fire for once,” one user writes on Reddit, while another raises concerns about the “crazy garbage” AI can produce.
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