US EditionNorway Plans Social Media Ban for Under-16s, Puts Age Checks on Tech Firms
Technology companies would have to verify users’ ages, and the government says 8,000 public consultation responses helped shape the stricter proposal.
- On Friday, Norway's minority Labour government announced it will introduce a bill by the end of 2026 to ban children under 16 from using social media, requiring technology companies to implement effective age verification.
- The government raised the proposed age threshold from 15 to 16 following a 2025 public consultation that drew more than 8,000 submissions, reflecting a political judgment that evidence and Australia's enforcement data support a stricter standard.
- Draft legislation proposes fines up to NOK 20 million for non-compliance, while Norway's BankID system could facilitate verification; exemptions will likely include computer games, e-commerce platforms, and closed groups like Spond used for sports coordination.
- Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere stated the legislation aims to ensure "a childhood where children get to be children," emphasizing that play and friendships must not be taken over by algorithms and screens.
- Norway's move follows Australia's world-first ban, which led to the removal of more than 4.7 million accounts by February; other European nations, including Denmark and Spain, are also exploring similar age-based restrictions.
83 Articles
83 Articles
The country is introducing an age limit for social media. When will the law take effect? The Norwegian government has announced plans to introduce an age limit for social media users. The bill will be submitted to parliament by the end of 2026, according to RBC-Ukraine, citing the official website of the Norwegian government. Read also: When will Norwegian F-16s appear in Ukrainian skies: what the Prime Minister says How the restriction will wor…
Beroendeframkallande och farligt, anser regeringen. "Det här har jag tänkt på sedan dag ett som statsminister", carrier statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre
Norway said it would submit a bill to parliament by the end of the year to ban children from using social media until the age of 16, making technology companies responsible for age verification. Several European countries are seeking to curb children's use of social media, after Australia took the lead with a world-first ban on those under 16 last December. "We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children can be ch…
Government proposal must be submitted by the end of the year, and the intention is that the law will come into force in 2027. Several countries have submitted similar projects in recent months, following Australia's pioneering example.
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