Norway is moving ahead with plans to restrict social media use for children under 16, and the government has now confirmed that the proposed law will also apply to online games and messaging services. The announcement, made on Monday, signals a broader approach than initially expected, as authorities seek to address a wider range of digital risks facing minors.
Children and Families Minister Lene Vågslid said the legislation is nearly complete and will be submitted to parliament before the end of the year. “Children's safety must come first,” she said, underscoring the government's determination to act despite industry pushback and technical challenges.
The draft bill, first published in 2025, originally set a minimum age of 15, but the threshold was raised to 16 in April. After a public consultation in Norway and the European Economic Area, the government has refined its approach. Online games and messaging apps were initially expected to receive broad exemptions, but officials have now decided to evaluate each platform based on its potential risks to children.
This means that services deemed harmless, such as messaging apps used for school communication, could remain accessible to younger users. However, platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Roblox—a popular online gaming environment where users interact while creating and playing games—are likely to fall under the new restrictions.
The proposed law aims to protect children from harmful content, addictive features, illegal advertising, and unwanted contact from strangers. Vågslid also stressed the importance of safeguarding children's “right to participate,” though the announcement did not detail how that would be ensured under the restrictions.
Age verification and data protection
Technology companies would be responsible for verifying users' ages, with systems required to comply with European data protection rules. This could involve age-estimation technologies or other methods that do not compromise privacy, but the practical implementation remains a point of debate.
Norway is not alone in tightening the rules. Denmark has adopted similar restrictions, and Spain is pursuing a ban for pupils under 16. In France, a 2024 attempt to ban social media for under-15s was struck down by the Constitutional Council on freedom of expression grounds, highlighting the legal complexities involved.
At the European Union level, the European Commission proposed the EU Kids Act in September, which would introduce age-based restrictions on social media, online games, and other digital services across the bloc. This growing regulatory momentum reflects a broader European concern about the impact of digital platforms on young people's mental health and well-being.
Critics argue that such bans may be difficult to enforce and could drive children to less regulated corners of the internet. Supporters, however, point to evidence of rising anxiety and depression among adolescents linked to heavy social media use. The Norwegian government has said it will continue to consult with experts and stakeholders as the bill moves through parliament.
For now, the focus is on finalising the legislation and ensuring that any measures are both effective and proportionate. As Vågslid put it, the goal is to create a safer digital environment for children without unduly limiting their opportunities to learn and connect.
