Your child has probably been sent images or videos they wish they hadn’t seen. Images depicting nudity, harassment and violence can suddenly appear in their feed. It is crucial for children and young people to understand that the laws governing society also apply online.
Surveys by the Norwegian Media Authority show that many young people have become accustomed to seeing harmful and illegal content on social media.
Tolerate or not tolerate?
In the Norwegian Media Authority’s campaign ‘Tolerate or not tolerate?’ a youth panel discusses real stories from young people’s everyday lives on social media.
Don’t punish young people for speaking out
In the Norwegian Media Authority’s survey ‘Robust, resigned or numb?’, many young people report that parents react too strongly when they talk about harmful content online.
This can lead to them avoiding sharing uncomfortable experiences with their parents. Young people also express a fear of losing access to digital platforms or having their phone confiscated if they speak out at home.
Have an open dialogue with your children
Try to have an open and positive dialogue with your children about what they might encounter online and on social media, and how it can best be handled. The goal is for children to feel comfortable speaking out if they experience something unpleasant or do something foolish, without any repercussions, such as having their phone confiscated or losing access to social media.
Parents need to encourage their children to report inappropriate content online. This can foster greater openness and reduce the fear of ‘punishment’ such as losing access to their phone or an app.
Listen to your child’s experience without moralising/scolding
- Can you tell me about what you saw?
- How did you feel about seeing that?
- Can you show me?
Acknowledge the feelings being expressed, and try to stay calm yourself
- I understand that you were scared when you saw this.
- I understand that it was uncomfortable.
Praise them for having the courage to speak up
- It’s good that you told me about this, now we can figure out together what we can do.
- You’re brave for telling me this.
Involve your child in the decision about what to do next
- What I think we should do now is… What do you think about that?
- What you saw is not okay, and I think we should… What do you think?
How to report it
If your child receives illegal content, such as nude images or violent videos, it is important to act. By showing that you take young people’s digital challenges seriously and handle them in a safe and understanding way, you help make the internet a safer place – for your child and for others.
1. Report the sender to the platform and/or block them
Take a screenshot if possible, and keep the image/video/message if it can be used as evidence. If not, delete the content from the phone.
2. Inform the police’s online unit
The police have a dedicated online unit that offers advice and assistance in such situations. They can be contacted through their channels on social media. See where you can contact them here.
Your information may not necessarily lead to criminal charges, but it will start a dialogue and follow-up, where the young person and, where applicable, parents are guided through the process. If the matter is reported by someone under 18, the parents are always involved.
Statistics on violent and nude images that 13 to 18-year-olds are exposed to:
- 56 per cent have seen frightening or violent images and videos at least once in the past year.
- 33 per cent have seen fights being planned or actual fights at least once in the past year.
- 30 per cent have received a nude image in the past year.
- 28 per cent have been asked to send a nude image of themselves.
- 9 per cent reported that they have shared a nude image of themselves in the past year.
Source: ‘Children and Media 2024’, Norwegian Media Authority
Remember the 13-year age limit
Many parents are not fully aware of the age limits on different platforms, according to the Norwegian Media Authority’s report ‘Parents and Media 2024’.
Remember that the 13-year age limit applies on Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Discord.
What the law says
Many young people are unsure about what the law says and what applies. As a parent, you can help with this.
Nude images
- It is illegal to send sexualised images to anyone under the age of 16 or to someone who has not consented to this.
- As a general rule, it is a punishable offence to take, possess, or share nude images or videos of someone under the age of 18.
- In exceptional cases, criminal charges may be dropped if a person is in possession of a nude image of someone who consents to them having it (e.g. a boyfriend or girlfriend), as long as they are close in age and development, and the person depicted is between 16 and 18 years of age. Regardless of this, it is prohibited to send the image to others.
- Even if the person in the image is over 18, it is illegal to share a nude image without their consent.
- Violating these rules can result in a fine or imprisonment.
More about sharing sexualised images on the police’s website
Violent videos
- It is illegal to share offensive images, videos or audio recordings, such as videos of someone being subjected to violence or humiliation.
- Sharing such videos may be punishable by law.
- Violating these rules can result in a fine or imprisonment.
More about sharing violent videos on the police’s website
Sources: Police online unit, Norwegian Media Authority and Kors på halsen
Your child has probably been sent images or videos they wish they hadn’t seen. Images depicting nudity, harassment and violence can suddenly appear in their feed. It is crucial for children and young people to understand that the laws governing society also apply online.
Surveys by the Norwegian Media Authority show that many young people have become accustomed to seeing harmful and illegal content on social media.
Tolerate or not tolerate?
In the Norwegian Media Authority’s campaign ‘Tolerate or not tolerate?’ a youth panel discusses real stories from young people’s everyday lives on social media.
Don’t punish young people for speaking out
In the Norwegian Media Authority’s survey ‘Robust, resigned or numb?’, many young people report that parents react too strongly when they talk about harmful content online.
This can lead to them avoiding sharing uncomfortable experiences with their parents. Young people also express a fear of losing access to digital platforms or having their phone confiscated if they speak out at home.
Have an open dialogue with your children
Try to have an open and positive dialogue with your children about what they might encounter online and on social media, and how it can best be handled. The goal is for children to feel comfortable speaking out if they experience something unpleasant or do something foolish, without any repercussions, such as having their phone confiscated or losing access to social media.
Parents need to encourage their children to report inappropriate content online. This can foster greater openness and reduce the fear of ‘punishment’ such as losing access to their phone or an app.
Listen to your child’s experience without moralising/scolding
- Can you tell me about what you saw?
- How did you feel about seeing that?
- Can you show me?
Acknowledge the feelings being expressed, and try to stay calm yourself
- I understand that you were scared when you saw this.
- I understand that it was uncomfortable.
Praise them for having the courage to speak up
- It’s good that you told me about this, now we can figure out together what we can do.
- You’re brave for telling me this.
Involve your child in the decision about what to do next
- What I think we should do now is… What do you think about that?
- What you saw is not okay, and I think we should… What do you think?
How to report it
If your child receives illegal content, such as nude images or violent videos, it is important to act. By showing that you take young people’s digital challenges seriously and handle them in a safe and understanding way, you help make the internet a safer place – for your child and for others.
1. Report the sender to the platform and/or block them
Take a screenshot if possible, and keep the image/video/message if it can be used as evidence. If not, delete the content from the phone.
2. Inform the police’s online unit
The police have a dedicated online unit that offers advice and assistance in such situations. They can be contacted through their channels on social media. See where you can contact them here.
Your information may not necessarily lead to criminal charges, but it will start a dialogue and follow-up, where the young person and, where applicable, parents are guided through the process. If the matter is reported by someone under 18, the parents are always involved.
Statistics on violent and nude images that 13 to 18-year-olds are exposed to:
- 56 per cent have seen frightening or violent images and videos at least once in the past year.
- 33 per cent have seen fights being planned or actual fights at least once in the past year.
- 30 per cent have received a nude image in the past year.
- 28 per cent have been asked to send a nude image of themselves.
- 9 per cent reported that they have shared a nude image of themselves in the past year.
Source: ‘Children and Media 2024’, Norwegian Media Authority
Remember the 13-year age limit
Many parents are not fully aware of the age limits on different platforms, according to the Norwegian Media Authority’s report ‘Parents and Media 2024’.
Remember that the 13-year age limit applies on Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Discord.
What the law says
Many young people are unsure about what the law says and what applies. As a parent, you can help with this.
Nude images
- It is illegal to send sexualised images to anyone under the age of 16 or to someone who has not consented to this.
- As a general rule, it is a punishable offence to take, possess, or share nude images or videos of someone under the age of 18.
- In exceptional cases, criminal charges may be dropped if a person is in possession of a nude image of someone who consents to them having it (e.g. a boyfriend or girlfriend), as long as they are close in age and development, and the person depicted is between 16 and 18 years of age. Regardless of this, it is prohibited to send the image to others.
- Even if the person in the image is over 18, it is illegal to share a nude image without their consent.
- Violating these rules can result in a fine or imprisonment.
More about sharing sexualised images on the police’s website
Violent videos
- It is illegal to share offensive images, videos or audio recordings, such as videos of someone being subjected to violence or humiliation.
- Sharing such videos may be punishable by law.
- Violating these rules can result in a fine or imprisonment.
More about sharing violent videos on the police’s website
Sources: Police online unit, Norwegian Media Authority and Kors på halsen
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