Norway Moves to Keep Kids Under 16 Off Social Media

Norway wants kids to be kids. The government is taking steps to prohibit social media use for individuals under 16, establishing a clear distinction between childhood and constant screen time.

Expected to reach parliament by the end of 2026, the proposed law would require tech companies to enforce strict age verification. This move reflects growing initiatives across Europe to limit how algorithms shape young users’ lives.

If passed, the measure could force major platforms to rethink how they onboard users and manage digital safety at scale, potentially leading to more robust verification processes and changes in user engagement strategies to protect minors online.

Tech companies would be tasked with enforcement

Norway’s proposal places responsibility squarely on social media platforms. According to Reuters, the government plans to require companies to verify users’ ages and prevent those under 16 from accessing their services.

Economic Times also reported the same timeline and enforcement approach, noting that the bill is expected to be presented by year-end and will make tech companies responsible for age verification.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said the policy aims to protect childhood from digital overreach. “We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children get to be children,” he said

He added that “play, friendships, and everyday life must not be taken over by algorithms and screens,” highlighting concerns about digital influence on children. Several reports also echoed the policy direction, noting that the bill is expected by the end of 2026 and will focus on protecting children’s digital development.

Europe follows a growing global pattern

Norway’s move comes as governments worldwide reassess children’s access to social media.

Reuters noted that several European countries are exploring similar restrictions after Australia introduced a nationwide ban on users under 16 in late 2025.

Australia’s rules cover platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and X, setting a precedent that other regulators are now studying.

What comes next

The Norwegian government plans to introduce the bill before the end of 2026, but key details around enforcement and penalties remain unclear. The scope of the ban and the technical requirements will determine how it affects the industry.

Reuters emphasized that the proposal also shows growing concern about algorithm-driven feeds that shape user behavior, though the government did not explicitly reference artificial intelligence in its plan.

As more countries consider similar measures, the focus on limiting social media access for younger users is likely to remain a key area of policy and regulatory attention.

Ubiquitous and socially, emotionally and ultimately physically damaging universally available hard core porn with images the likes of which might shock Caligula that children can and do readily access….

Or

Age verification laws meant to limit children’s access to hard core porn but which also is being piggy backed into the digital gulag they are building?

Cut the Gordian knot. The solution to the paradox is to ban porn, like it used to be 40 years ago and society still functioned and before Jew lawyers won “free speech” cases. If you protest this, you are a gooner.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/parents-decide-act-pushes-windows-11-and-other-operating-systems-towards-forced-age-verification/ar-AA21onrF

Age verification could soon be mandated on major operating systems like Windows 11, macOS, and even Linux due to new laws requiring tech companies to participate to protect minors, give guardians more control over digital access, and generally comply with regional regulations.

According to a report by Gaming on Linux, a new bill co-sponsored by New Jersey Democrat Josh Gottheimer and New York Republican Elise Stefanik has been introduced in the US House, requiring operating systems to verify a user's age before proceeding with initial installation (via PC Gamer).

Consequently, users of these operating systems, whether temporarily or as their daily drivers, will be required to enter their date of birth when setting up an account. The "Parents Decide Act" will also require OS providers like Windows to "develop a system to allow an app developer to access any information as is necessary, collected by the operating system to carry out this section and any regulation promulgated under this section, to verify the date of birth of a user of an app of the app developer."

Essentially, this only means that the apps and programs installed on your device will have access to your date of birth. While it seems fair to establish control over what minors can access online and give parents the upper hand in digital access, it remains unclear whether the age-verification checks will affect privacy and data security with their methods.

Right now, the proposed bill is a tad vague, lacking clear definitions, leaving open-ended questions hanging in the air. For instance, how would age verification work on Linux-based platforms if the bill were passed? Unlike Windows, Linux doesn't have centralized accounts, and users can download "distros" from global mirrors and modify the source code freely.

Does age verification feel intrusive and sketchy?

As early as next year, California’s Digital Age Assurance Act will require all operating system providers in the state, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux distros like SteamOS, to collect users’ age information during setup.

GrapheneOS, an Android-based OS spin-off, recently indicated that it won't be party to emerging laws requiring mandatory age verification during setup: "GrapheneOS will remain usable by anyone around the world without requiring personal information, identification or an account," added the OS provider. "If GrapheneOS devices can't be sold in a region due to their regulations, so be it."

However, age verification isn't a new phenomenon. In fact, it almost feels synonymous with the operating system, as it's a mandatory requirement when setting up a Microsoft Account.

Interestingly, Microsoft pledged to improve the general user sentiment around Windows 11 in January by addressing the major pain points across the operating system. Some of these measures could include scrapping the mandatory Microsoft account when setting up a new PC.

It'll be interesting to see how Microsoft handles this issue when age verification becomes a mandatory requirement for all OS providers.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-mulls-social-media-age-limits-as-global-curbs-spread

https://archive.is/IXONy

TOKYO – Japan is considering imposing age-based restrictions on social media, joining a broader global push to manage risks to young users.

The government is weighing a requirement for social media platforms to apply age-based filtering by default, according to materials released on April 22 by a Communications Ministry panel.

Specific age thresholds were not discussed, with some experts noting that uniform age limits may not be the best approach given differences in risks associated with each platform.

The panel is due to issue a report this summer that may lead to legal revisions or new guidelines by the end of 2026.

While current Japanese law already urges mobile carriers and Internet providers to enable filtering for minors, it is not required if parents opt out of such measures.

Japan’s moves would follow steps taken elsewhere to protect adolescents online.

Australia in December banned 4.7 million accounts held by young users, while countries including Britain, Greece and Indonesia are pursuing similar measures.

In the US, a California court in March ordered Meta Platforms and Alphabet to pay a combined US$6 million (S$7.66 million) after ruling that their platforms were deliberately designed to be addictive, a finding seen as a step toward tighter oversight.

Pressure on social media companies has been building over addictive design features and harmful content, which critics say can damage children’s cognitive development and mental health.

In Japan, teenagers spend nearly 70 minutes a day on social media on weekdays, almost double the overall national average, according to a ministry survey.

Some psychologists have also linked social media use to mental health risks, including cyberbullying, body dysmorphia, eating disorders and suicide.

Over 27,000 cases of defamation, abuse or other unpleasant experiences via computers and mobile phones were reported in 2024, steadily rising in recent years, according to an Education Ministry report.

Still, Australia’s roll-out of the ban has shown mixed results.

Some parents report improved behaviour, while others say children are bypassing the restrictions or shifting to other apps.

Children can still view content on platforms that do not require users to log in, even if they cannot post, comment or send messages.

Drawing on the challenges seen in Australia, April 22’s discussion extended to practical implementation issues.

Some experts proposed using mobile carrier subscriber data to verify users’ ages, while others urged caution over privacy risks.

Participants also questioned how effective filtering would be if users could bypass checks by entering false ages.

The Japanese government panel’s proposal also calls for a rating system to assess platforms based on safeguards such as content filters, time limits and advertising restrictions, allowing users to compare risks more easily.

LINE and YouTube remain among the most widely used platforms among teenagers in Japan, according to a ministry report in 2024.

Instagram has seen rapid growth in recent years, reaching 75 per cent of teenagers in 2024, up from 25 per cent a decade earlier.