Norway Broadens Under-16 Social Media Age Limit to Include Gaming

Norway’s government announced on Monday its intention to expand proposed legislation that would prohibit social media access for children under the age of 16. The revised plan aims to include specific gaming and chat platforms deemed "harmful." Oslo is expected to present this bill by the close of 2026.

The government’s statement defined "harmful platforms" as those which, through their inherent design, features, or content, present a risk to the emotional or cognitive development, general health, or safety of children. Popular platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and the gaming environment Roblox are anticipated to fall within the purview of this upcoming law.

Minister for Children and Families, Lene Vagslid, explained the rationale behind this expansion. She told public broadcaster NRK television, "Today there are certain platforms that present themselves as games but in fact are full of features such as algorithmic recommendation systems and illegal advertising targeting children. That is why we want them to be covered as well."

The proposed age restriction will apply to children until January 1 of the year they attain 16 years of age. The onus will be on the affected platforms to implement robust age-verification mechanisms. Given that Norway's Labour government operates as a minority in parliament, securing the support of other political factions will be crucial for the bill's successful passage.

Internationally, similar measures are being considered or have been enacted. Australia, for instance, introduced legislation last year that bars individuals under 16 from accessing certain social networks. The European Union is also developing a stratified approach to digital restrictions, which will be dependent on the user's age.