There Norway has adopted a rigorous policy for protect children from the influence of advertising, prohibiting any form of marketing aimed at minors of 12 years. This prohibition applies in particular to television broadcasts, online content and Promotion of unhealthy foods. The main objective is to reduce the impact of aggressive marketing on childhood psychology and contrast the increase in obesity among the little ones.
Restrictions on advertising to children They have been in force since Broadcasting Act of 1992a law that sanctioned the ban on transmitting advertisements for minors. However in 2013 the government and industries decided to take a further step forward, introducing a self-regulated ban on advertising of unhealthy foods and drinks aimed at young people under the age of 16. This initiative was part of a wider effort to reduce commercial pressure on children, protecting them from marketing strategies that can negatively influence their consumption choices.
Norway is also a leader in a network of 28 countries coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO)which deals with limiting advertising pressure on children internationally. This collaboration aims to develop more severe regulations to protect minors from the negative effects of consumerism and aggressive marketing.
There are free areas from advertising
A key aspect of this policy is the education of children and families on advertising. According to the Norwegian committee for the protection of minors from advertising, children and young people must be instructed on How to recognize marketing strategies and develop a critical thinking towards advertising messages. For this reason, it was proposed to strengthen theconsumer education in schoolsteaching young people to identify the tricks of advertising and evaluate the environmental and social consequences of their consumer choices.
Furthermore, the Norwegian government promotes the creation of free advertising areaslike schools, so that children can grow without being constantly exposed to commercial pressures. There was also discussed the possibility of prohibiting advertising in school books and regulating sponsorship activities in schools.
Finally, Norway recognized the importance of a international regulation To deal with the problem of direct advertising to children. The goal is to establish common guidelines between the various countries to ensure that the marketing aimed at minors respect high ethical standards.
