Norway Plans Social Media Ban For Under-16s
Norway plans to introduce a law banning children under 16 from using social media, placing responsibility on technology companies to verify age and block underage users.
Norway Social Media Ban Targets Under-16s
The Norwegian government is preparing legislation that would restrict social media access for children below 16. The proposal is aimed at protecting minors from excessive screen time, harmful content, online pressure and algorithm-driven addiction.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said the goal is to protect childhood and reduce the influence of platforms that keep young users engaged for long periods.
Tech Firms Face Age Verification Rules
Under the proposed system, social media companies would be required to verify the age of users and prevent children below the legal limit from accessing their platforms. This means the burden would fall on platforms rather than parents or children alone.
Norway has not yet listed all apps that would be covered, but similar debates elsewhere have focused on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube and X.
Global Push To Restrict Child Access
Norway’s move follows a growing global trend to regulate children’s social media use. Australia has already approved a ban for users under 16, while several European countries are studying or preparing similar restrictions.
The proposal has also raised questions about privacy, as large-scale age verification may require sensitive personal data. Norway’s data protection authorities are expected to closely examine how the system can protect children without creating new risks around surveillance or commercial data collection.
