Norway’s social media influencers have been reacting to the government’s new regulation, which states that they can’t upload edited photos without disclosing what they’ve done.
Norway’s Marketing Act was amended to include the new laws.
According to the Norwegian government’s website, the new laws are intended to lessen societal pressure caused by “idealized persons in advertising.”
The ban would affect anyone who broadcasts paid promotion on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. Influencers, performers, and singers all fall within this category.
Madeleine Pedersen, an influencer from Norway, told the BBC that it’s “about time” this sort of law was brought in.
She said: “There are so many people that are insecure about their body or face.
“I have struggled with body issues because of Instagram, back in the day.
“The worst part is that I don’t even know if the other girls I looked up to did edit their photos or not. That’s why we all need answers – we need this law.”
She added that she thinks the law will now make influencers less likely to edit their pictures.
However, Eirin Kristiansen, another influencer from the country, said that she thinks the law is “not very well thought out.”
The 26-year-old told BBC Newsbeat: “To me, it seems more like a shortcut to fix a problem that won’t really do any improvement.
“Mental health issues are caused by so much more than an edited photo, and another badge on advertiser’s photos won’t change how young girls and boys truly feel, in my opinion.”
