April 24, 2026, 10:27April 24, 2026, 10:27
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has announced a social media ban for children and young people under the age of 16. A corresponding draft law is expected to be introduced in parliament by the end of the year.
Støre told the NTB news agency. He had been thinking about it since his first day as prime minister. “Now the law comes,” said Støre.
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.Image: keystone
The legal age limit for using social media should be set at January 1st of the year in which young people celebrate their 16th birthday. In practice, young people are only allowed to use media such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat from the tenth grade onwards, as NTB reports. The safety of children and young people is “one of the most important priorities in the government plan for Norway,” said Støre.
Similar legislative proposals are now being discussed in several European countries. Australia is a pioneer, where children and young people under the age of 16 have no longer been allowed to have their own accounts on many major platforms since mid-December. (hkl/sda/dpa)