Norway announces bill to ban social media accessban social media access for children under 16
Norway announced on Friday that it will present legislation this year prohibiting social media platforms from serving users under 16 years old, with technology companies responsible for age verification. The move makes Norway the latest country to pursue such restrictions, following similar initiatives in Australia, Denmark, and Poland, as governments worldwide intensify efforts to protect children from online harms.
Norwegian Government Position
Norway's government argues that existing regulations like GDPR's 13-year age limit are inadequately enforced, with children as young as nine accessing social media despite rules. Officials emphasize that an absolute age limit of 16, combined with mandatory age verification by platforms, is necessary to protect children from harmful content, exploitation, and data misuse while ensuring a safe digital upbringing.
International Regulatory Trend
Multiple countries are adopting similar approaches to child protection online. Australia implemented a ban for under-16s in December 2025, Denmark announced an agreement in November 2025 to ban access for under-15s, and Poland introduced comparable restrictions in February 2026, reflecting growing global consensus that legislative action is needed where self-regulation has failed.
- Norway's Labour Party has led the country since 2021 under Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
- GDPR, enacted in 2018, lets EU states set children's data consent age up to 16.
- DSA, effective 2024, fines platforms up to 6% of global turnover for child safety failures.
