Norway plans social media ban for children below 16, to bring bill by year-end

After Australia took the lead by banning social media for children below 16, Norway said it is planning to do the same and bring a bill in parliament by the end of this year.

In Short

• Norway PM aims to protect childhood from digital influence
• Technology firms to handle age verification under new law
• Move follows Australia's lead with similar under-16 social media ban

Norway said on Friday it would present a bill in parliament by year-end to ban children from using social media until they turn 16, making technology companies responsible for the task of age verification.

Several European nations are seeking to rein in children's use of social media after Australia took the lead with a world-first ban on under-16s last December.

"We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children get to be children," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement.

"Play, friendships and everyday life must not be taken over by algorithms and screens. This is an important measure to safeguard children's digital lives."

The government did not say which applications would be targeted.

Australia's ban covers Meta apps such as Instagram and Facebook as well as TikTok, Snapchat, Google's YouTube and Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter.

Norway will introduce its bill in parliament by the end of 2026, the minority Labour government said.

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