A new Medietilsynet survey highlights increased encounters with harmful content among young Norwegians, revealing gender differences, evolving platform use, and concerning gaps in parental oversight, as teens navigate a complex online landscape.
A new survey from Medietilsynet suggests that harmful online material is now a routine part of many teenagers’ digital lives, with 72% saying they have come across content they consider damaging. Among the same group, 50% reported seeing material about becoming extremely thin, 36% had encountered frightening or violent content and 30% had seen posts linked to drug sales, according to the Norwegian regulator’s Barn og medier 2026 study. At the same time, many teenagers appear to know how to respond: 91% said they know how to report content and 80% said they have blocked someone. Medietilsynet said the survey was carried out by Verian among 1,800 children and young people aged 9 to 18.
The findings also point to clear differences between girls’ and boys’ media habits. Medietilsynet said boys are more likely to have a PC and a games console, while girls are more likely to use tablets. Girls spend more time on social media, whereas boys are more likely to play video games. Medietilsynet director Mari Velsand said the differences run through the study and raise wider questions about how young people learn to navigate society online, as well as whether algorithms may be reinforcing those divides.
For children aged 9 to 12, YouTube and Roblox remain the dominant digital spaces, but messaging apps are becoming more important, and more of this age group is using them than in 2024, Medietilsynet said. Velsand warned that chat apps and gaming platforms now share many of the same functions as social media, including the same kinds of risks. That means age limits and online protection cannot be discussed as if only social networks matter, she said. Separate Medietilsynet reporting on social media design has also argued that endless scrolling and constant notifications can drive excessive use and contribute to sleep loss and feelings of dependency.
The survey also suggests that parental oversight drops just as children move deeper into the online world. Only 4 in 10 of those aged 13 to 15 said their parents keep track of how they use social media, even though almost all teenagers are active on those platforms. Medietilsynet described that as a paradox, arguing that young people are entering a more crowded and complex digital environment precisely when adults appear to be stepping back. The regulator has repeatedly linked that environment to exposure not only to violent material but also to hate messages and other harmful content.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
