Norway Plans Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

Kathmandu. Norway is preparing to introduce legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media. The government has announced that it will submit the bill to parliament by the end of this year.

Under the new law, social media companies will be responsible for verifying the age of their users. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that the government is taking this step to ensure a safer digital life for children.

According to him, while children's lives should be centered on play, friendship, and daily activities, they are currently being influenced by algorithms and screens.

Therefore, he emphasized that ensuring a safe childhood for children is a government priority. The bill is targeted to be passed by parliament by the end of 2026. The government has not yet clarified which social media platforms will fall under the scope of the ban.

Several EU countries are seeking to restrict children's use of social media with the aim of protecting them from online risks.

Australia recently implemented a similar ban for children under 16, the first of its kind in the world. This includes platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and X.