The government of Norway has announced plans to introduce legislation this year that would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, marking one of the strictest digital protection policies in Europe.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the proposed law aims to protect childhood development by reducing the influence of algorithms and excessive screen time on young users. He emphasized that children should be able to focus on play, friendships, and daily life without being overwhelmed by digital platforms.
Under the proposed rules, technology companies will be responsible for verifying the ages of users to ensure compliance. Norway’s Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Tung stressed that enforcement responsibility lies with the platforms, not children or parents.
The policy aligns Norway with a growing number of countries tightening digital access for minors. Nations such as France, Spain, and Denmark have already announced similar measures, while Australia and Turkey have implemented restrictions on social media use for younger users.
At the European level, the European Commission is also working on digital child protection measures, including an age verification application designed to help enforce online age limits across member states.
Norway has already introduced national screen time guidelines and mobile free school policies, which officials say have contributed to a decline in children’s social media usage.
The proposed law reflects growing global concern about the impact of social networks on mental health, online safety, and childhood development, as governments increasingly push tech companies to take greater responsibility for protecting young users.
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