- Access to AI will be limited in Norway for children under 13 years of age
- The guidelines will come into force in September
- From the age of 13, AI can be introduced “with caution”
Governments are not only cracking down on social media when it comes to children’s access: Norway has now decreed that generative AI should be effectively banned for schoolchildren up to 13 years old.
Starting in September, children in grades 1 to 7 (primary school, under 13) “generally will not have access to AI,” according to the official resolution translated from Norwegian (via PakGazette). From the age of 13, “AI can be used gradually and cautiously,” as long as teachers have received the necessary training.
While the Norwegian government recognizes that AI can be beneficial for learning in certain scenarios, the statement emphasizes that basic reading, writing and math skills should come first; and in these areas, skills and qualifications have declined for children in Norway in recent years.
“Research shows that uncritical use of generative AI in schools increases the risk of skipping important stages of learning,” explains the official statement, translated from Norwegian. “Younger students do not have the knowledge, critical reflection and self-regulation necessary to use AI well.”
Norway almost bans AI in primary school from r/technology
Phones have been banned in school 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 equivalent legislation that the UK plans to implement from next year.
The safety of both social media and generative AI is facing increasing scrutiny from governments and regulators around the world, especially when it comes to children and young people. The UK’s proposed social media ban also includes guidelines on how AI should be used at younger ages.
Many apps and platforms are taking preventative measures: ChatGPT already comes with strong parental controls and has a lower age limit of 13, for example. Meanwhile, Meta is experimenting with using more AI to better detect the age of its users so that relevant limits and restrictions can be set.
The general consensus online seems to be that it’s the right decision. “This ban might actually force some real brain cells to activate for once,” writes one user on Reddit, while another expresses concern about the “delusional garbage” that AI can produce.
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