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Norway announced on Friday that it plans to introduce a bill to stop social media platforms from allowing users under 16.
The country also said that tech companies will have to check the age of their users.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr, in a statement said : “We are introducing this law because we want kids to have the childhood they deserve, where they can play, grow, and be kids.
“Play, friendships, and everyday life should not be controlled by algorithms and screens.”
He described the move as a key step to protect children’s online experiences.
Some European countries, like France, Spain, and Denmark have already announced plans to set age restrictions for social media use.
Countries such as Australia and Turkey have already taken the step.
The European Commission in mid-April introduced an app that checks a person’s age, and it will be available to people in Europe soon.
“This method serves as a means to ensure the age limit is respected. I expect technology companies to make sure that the age limit is respected.
“Children shouldn’t be left responsible for avoiding platforms they aren’t allowed to use.
“That responsibility lies with the companies that offer these services. They need to put in place good age checks and follow the law right from the start.
“The government stated that the number of children who have phones or use social media has gone down because of several actions they’ve already put in place, like “national screen-time guidelines and suggestions for schools that are mobile-free,” Norwegian Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance, Karianne Tung, said.
