Norway has announced plans to introduce legislation this year banning social media use for children under the age of 16, with technology companies required to verify users’ ages.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the proposed law is aimed at protecting children’s wellbeing and preserving childhood experiences.
“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 in a statement.
“This is an important measure to safeguard children’s digital lives.”
The move places responsibility on tech companies to enforce age restrictions, rather than on children or parents.
Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Tung emphasised that platforms must comply with the law from the outset.
“I expect technology companies to ensure that the age limit is respected. Children cannot be left with the responsibility for staying away from platforms they are not allowed to use,” she said.
“That responsibility rests with the companies providing these services. They must implement effective age verification and comply with the law from day one.”
Norway joins a growing number of countries tightening regulations on children’s access to social media. France, Spain and Denmark have signalled similar plans, while Australia and Turkey have already implemented comparable measures.
At the regional level, the European Commission has also stepped up efforts to protect minors online, recently unveiling an age-verification application expected to be rolled out to European citizens.
The Norwegian government noted that earlier measures—such as national screen-time guidelines and recommendations for mobile-free schools—have already contributed to a decline in social media use and smartphone access among children.
