Norway to follow Australia, plans to ban social media use by children under 16

Norway will introduce its bill in parliament by the end of 2026, though has yet to note which applications would be targeted.

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Norway to follow Australia, plans to ban social media use by children under 16
ByREUTERS
APRIL 24, 2026 10:35
Updated: APRIL 24, 2026 11:48

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 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," Norwegian 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."

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere in his office in the new government building, in Oslo, Norway, April 13, 2026.
Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere in his office in the new government building, in Oslo, Norway, April 13, 2026. (credit: NTB/Ole Berg-Rusten via REUTERS)

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.

Turkey bans social media for children under 15

Additionally, Turkey's parliament late on Wednesday passed legislation that bans the use of social media by people under the age of 15 and introduces new rules for digital platforms, including game software companies.

The bill amends the Social Services Law and several other laws.

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