Norway's minority Labour government, led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, has announced legislation to ban social media access for children under the age of 16. The bill is expected to be introduced by the end of the year, raising the age threshold from the 15-year limit proposed in the 2025 consultation.
The plan to restrict access comes as a response to concerns about the potential harm children face online. Oslo stated that technology companies will be responsible for verifying the age of their users.
Norway joins a growing number of countries implementing similar measures. Australia was the first to issue a ban in late 2025 to reduce pressures and risks such as social media addiction, cyberbullying, and exposure to predators. Ireland is also considering similar legislation, and several other European countries have announced intentions to establish a digital age of majority for social media.