Norway plans ban on social media for under-16s

Norway has announced that it will submit a bill to parliament by the end of the year to ban the use of social media for children under the age of 16, placing responsibility on tech companies to verify users’ ages, Reuters reported.

Several European countries are attempting to restrict children’s access to social media after Australia took the initiative with the world’s first ban for under-16s in December last year, CE Report quotes BTA.

“We are introducing this law because we want childhood to be a time when children can be children,” said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

“Play, friendships and everyday life should not be taken over by algorithms and screens. This is an important measure to protect children’s digital lives,” he added.

The government did not specify which apps would be affected. The Australian ban covers TikTok and Meta’s apps such as Instagram and Facebook, as well as Snapchat, YouTube, and X owned by Elon Musk.

Norway is expected to present the bill to parliament by the end of 2026.