Norway plans to apply its proposed under-16 social-media rules to services that pose risks to children, a design that could bring some gaming and messaging platforms under regulation.
The government expects TikTok, Roblox and Snapchat to qualify as those platforms are designed today. Its Oct. 19 announcement gave those examples but did not provide a complete list of services that could be covered.
Under the proposal, a service’s design, features or content would need to pose a risk to children’s emotional, cognitive or health development, or their safety. The government says the rules target risks including harmful content, addictive features, illegal marketing and unwanted contact from strangers. It dropped several exemptions considered in an earlier consultation draft, including for services focused mainly on games or digital messaging. The draft still limits the rules to services defined as social media, so a game or messaging service would not qualify on risk alone.
The age limit would end on Jan. 1 of the calendar year a child turns 16, allowing access from age 15. Technology companies would verify users’ ages at login and select a method that protects privacy and complies with the General Data Protection Regulation. Enforcement is linked to Norway incorporating the European Union’s Digital Services Act into domestic law; the government has not announced an enforcement date.
A consultation-stage impact assessment said providers could face age-check expenses, reduced revenue if fewer users could access their services and possible financial sanctions for noncompliance. It did not estimate the costs and predates the Oct. 19 update. The assessment also said children could gain protection while losing some opportunities to communicate and access information. The government says a risk-based approach would give companies an incentive to remove harmful features.
The Norwegian Media Authority’s Barn og medier 2026 survey reported Roblox use among 81% of children ages nine and 10, and 77% of those ages 11 and 12. The authority planned to publish a separate report on the platform Thursday, Oct. 22.
Reuters said it received no immediate replies to its Oct. 19 comment requests from Snap Inc., Roblox Corporation or TikTok owner ByteDance. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner said the country began enforcing its own social-media minimum-age restrictions on Dec. 10, 2025.
Norway’s government aims to submit its bill to Parliament by the end of 2026.
