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Norway has announced plans to present a bill in parliament by the end of the year that would prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media, following the lead set by Australia.
The move comes as Türkiye’s parliament has passed legislation banning social media use for individuals under the age of 15.
Unlike Norway’s proposed measures, Türkiye’s new legislation also extends to gaming software companies.
Several European countries have moved to tighten regulations around children’s access to social media after Australia introduced the world’s first ban on users under 16 last December.
Denmark has also announced plans for a similar restriction, while a parliamentary inquiry in France has recommended banning social media access for those under 15. Meanwhile, the government of Spain is drafting legislation that would require legal guardians to authorise access for users under 16.
Oslo said technology companies would be held responsible for the task of age verification.
“We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children get to be children,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre 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, YouTube and Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter.
Norway will introduce its bill in parliament by the end of 2026, the minority Labour government has said.
