The government of Norway has announced plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, placing the responsibility for enforcement on technology companies.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the proposed law is aimed at protecting childhood experiences from excessive digital influence.
“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 on Friday.
Under the proposal, social media companies will be required to implement strict age-verification systems to ensure compliance from the outset.
Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Tung emphasized that the burden of enforcement should not fall on children.
“Children cannot be left with the responsibility for staying away from platforms they are not allowed to use, that responsibility rests with the companies providing these services,” she said.
Norway joins a growing list of countries tightening regulations around youth access to social networks.
Nations such as France, Spain, and Denmark have indicated similar plans, while Australia and Turkey have already implemented restrictions.
At the regional level, the European Commission recently unveiled an age-verification app designed to strengthen protections for minors online.
The Norwegian government noted that earlier measures—such as national screen-time guidelines and mobile-free school policies—have already contributed to a decline in children’s social media use.
The proposed bill is expected to be presented later this year.
