Norway Plans to Ban Social Media for Children Under 16
Norway is set to introduce a landmark bill banning children under 16 from using social media, making it the latest country to take bold legislative steps to protect young users online. The Norwegian government announced on Friday that it plans to present the bill this year, with technology companies bearing full responsibility for verifying user ages.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store was direct in his reasoning. “We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children get to be children. Play, friendships, and everyday life must not be taken over by algorithms and screens,” he said. The Norway social media ban for under-16s, he added, is “an important measure to safeguard children’s digital lives.”
Norway Moves to Shield Children From Social Media, Puts the Burden on Tech Companies
Minister of Digitalisation Karianne Tung made clear that the burden falls squarely on platforms, not children. “I expect technology companies to ensure that the age limit is respected,” she said. “They must implement effective age verification and comply with the law from day one.”
Similarly, Norway joins a growing list of countries taking action. France, Spain, Denmark, Australia, and Türkiye have either passed or committed to similar laws. The European Commission has also moved on the issue, unveiling an age-verification app set for rollout across Europe in mid-April.
The Norwegian government noted that the number of children using social media had already begun to fall, partly due to existing measures such as national screen-time guidelines and mobile-free school policies.
With the Norway social media ban for under-16s now moving toward legislation, the global conversation around children’s digital safety is gaining serious momentum and the pressure on Big Tech has never been stronger.
