Norway Moves to Ban Under-16s From TikTok, Snapchat and Roblox

Norway’s government has announced plans to expand its proposed social media ban for children under 16 to include certain gaming and chat platforms, citing concerns over online safety, harmful content and features designed to keep young users engaged.

The Norwegian government said on Monday that it had revised its proposed legislation to cover platforms it considers harmful to children’s emotional and cognitive development, health or safety. Oslo is expected to present the bill before the end of 2026.

Under the revised proposal, platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and gaming platform Roblox would fall within the scope of the restrictions. The government said the legislation would target services whose design, features or content pose risks to children, rather than focusing exclusively on conventional social media networks.

Norway’s Minister for Children and Families, Lene Vagslid, said some platforms present themselves primarily as games but incorporate features commonly associated with social media, including algorithmic recommendation systems and advertising targeting children.

“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,” Vagslid said in an interview with public broadcaster NRK.

She added that the government wanted such services included in the proposed restrictions to ensure children received broader protection from potentially harmful online environments.

The proposed age limit would remain in effect until January 1 of the year a child turns 16. Under the plan, affected platforms would be responsible for implementing systems to verify users’ ages, although the practical details of enforcement would depend on the final legislation.

However, the proposal still faces a political hurdle. Norway’s Labour government does not hold a parliamentary majority, meaning it will need support from other political parties for the bill to become law.

The move comes amid wider international efforts to regulate children’s access to social media. Australia introduced legislation restricting under-16s from accessing certain social networks, while the European Union has been considering age-based approaches to online restrictions. Norway’s expanded proposal signals an intention to address risks on gaming and chat services as well as traditional social media platforms.